2241 by Pride Source Media Group

All Eyes On Michigan After SCOTUS Sends Back Cases Macomb Extends LGBT Protections To Employees

“

One day we’ll get rid of this word ‘gay,’ because

”

it’s irrelevant.

– Annie Lennox, pg. 16

A SOLID ALLY IN

PETERS U.S. Senate Candidate Talks LGBT, The Dishonorably Discharged WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM

OCT. 9, 2014 | VOL. 2241 | FREE

BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

www.PrideSource.com

COVER 4 A solid ally in Peters After All Eyes On Michigan Cases SCOTUS Sends Back LGBT Macomb Extends yees Emplo To ctions Prote

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This is a huge step forward for our entire country being a place where every family’s love and commitment can be recognized and respected under the law.

rid One day we’ll get because

of this word ‘gay,’ it’s irrelevant.

”

– Annie Lennox,

pg. 16

A SOLID ALLY

PETERS U.S. Senate Candida WWW. PRIDES OURCE

ono te Talks LGBT, The Dish

– Tammy Baldwin on recent marriage equality victories, pg. 11

rably Charged

2241 | FREE OCT. 9, 2014 | VOL.

.COM

NEWS 6 Supreme Court denies seven appeals in five states 7 All eyes on Michigan as Supreme Court refuses to hear marriage equality cases 9 Macomb County extends LGBT protections to employees 14 LGBT bowling tournament strikes metro Detroit this weekend 15 Michigan For Marriage announces new co-chairs

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ENTER TO WIN

OPINION 11 Creep of the Week 12 Parting Glances 12 Civil rights for all means including t rans 13 From dreams to action

LIFE 16 The sweet dreams of Annie Lennox 21 Hear Me Out 22 The Frivolist 25 A bloody fun night of theater 27 Happenings 28 Ann Arbor drops the bass at Edgefest 32 Puzzle

VOL. 2241 • OCT. 9, 2014 • ISSUE 884

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Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

Election 2014: Michigan U.S. Senate Race

U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI 14) addressing the LGBT Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Convention in late August. BTL file photo: AJ Trager

A Solid Ally In Peters BY JAN STEVENSON AND AJ TRAGER FARMINGTON HILLS – U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (DMI 14) is ahead in most polls to win the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Carl Levin, a Democratic powerhouse who has held that U.S. Senate seat for 35 years. Peters is running against Republican Terri Lynn Land. BTL spoke with Peters about his campaign, about why he is such a strong supporter of LGBT rights and about his commitment to LGBT servicemen and women who were dishonorably discharged and his plan to retroactively change their status to honorably discharged.

BTL: Within the Michigan congressional delegation, you and John Conyers are the only ones that have earned 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign’s Congressional Scorecard. You are also a member of the Congressional LGBT Caucus, a group of 112 House members committed to LGBT equality. This is a long way from 1996, when you voted for the Michigan Marriage Ban as a state senator. Can you talk about your evolution and how you became such a strong LGBT ally? Peters: I always look back at that vote and regret that I made that vote. I think part of it is the natural evolution of learning more about the issue that then broadened me to become a champion for marriage equality. Initially I was for civil unions, and in fact, I was attacked for that position when I ran for attorney general in 2002. But certainly as long as I’ve been a member of Congress the last six years, I have been fully supportive of marriage equality and a proud member of the LGBT caucus. I believe that people should have equal rights. These are basic human rights that apply to everybody. We need to make sure that the laws follow the basic tenet that we should all have access to the same human rights, regardless of a person’s background – broadly defined.

BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

On Nov. 4:

“

... as strongly as people feel, it doesn’t make any difference unless they actually go vote. That is the only way that their voice is heard.

”

BTL: Please tell us about where you stand on LGBT rights versus your opponent, Terri Lynn Land. What’s your perception on where she stands and how you differ? Peters: Well, it’s always hard to know, because she does not talk much about anything. She doesn’t open herself up to any press interviews. She has refused a debate. It’s basically as U.S. News and World Report and other media outlets have said: she is running an invisible campaign and is basically hiding behind millions of dollars of false attack ads, and that’s how she’s trying to get elected. It’s difficult for me to know where she’s coming from and where she is on issues. But I do know she was a member of the Republican National Committee and supported the RNC platform which called same-sex marriage, I think, an “assault on society.” It’s a very extreme position – very intolerant. And actually, what really spoke volumes was when Dave Agema, her colleague on the RNC, said things that were extremely discriminatory and bigoted regarding the LGBT Continued on Next Page

www.PrideSource.com

community; she was silent. She refused to condemn him. And she remained silent and let him continue to make those kinds of statements against the LGBT community. It was only at the very end that she did speak up, and her rationale for doing so was that she thought it was in the best interest of the Republican Party. She didn’t say it was because those were bigoted, hateful comments that have no place in civil discourse; she looked at it strictly as a party person. To me, that is not the type of leadership you want from someone in the U.S. Senate. You want someone who is going to be a leader and represent everybody in the state of Michigan and be an aggressive advocate. I take great pride that I’ve been in the leadership on issues that are important to the LGBT community. I was very active in the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. I served as a former Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve and served with many men and women who are very patriotic, and I wasn’t concerned with what their sexual orientation was. To me, the most important thing was that they were patriots that wanted to serve their country. So I was very pleased that DADT was repealed. I also supported the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. I signed the amicus brief to support the overturning of the DOMA, and I am a co-sponsor of the Employment NonDiscrimination Act and will continue to work on issues that I think are important for us to address as a society. I think my opponent has clearly shown, not only will she not be a leader, but she is opposed to these issues. When push comes to shove, she stays silent.

BTL: You have sponsored and co-sponsored a lot of LGBT positive legislation in your time in Congress. What legislation are you most proud of? Peters: I would say the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, and that’s because we were successful in something I thought was courageous. Now I am working on legislation that says folks who received dishonorable discharges because of the old policy will be able to go back and change their status to an honorable discharge.

BTL: What would that mean for veterans who were dishonorably discharged under the old policy? Peters: Tarnishing the records of patriotic veterans I think is unacceptable. We owe veterans who are willing to go into harm’s way to protect our country to have an honorable discharge – to know that the country is thankful for their service in an honorable way. And, importantly, if you have a dishonorable discharge, you are precluded from having many of the benefits that you would otherwise have as a veteran. If elected to the U.S. Senate, I would pick that up and continue to work on that issue, absolutely.

BTL: How are you feeling about the race and your campaign at this point? Peters: The number one focus has got to be to get people to vote. If the LGBT community votes, that’s a big number of people. The differences are so stark between the candidates; folks have to understand just how important this election is. Millions of dollars are being spent by the other side, but their ultimate strategy is to suppress the vote. They are putting up a lot of bigoted stuff, and it’s so cynical. It’s about turning people off from the process and they think, well, if they do enough negative ads, people might just not go vote. They will just say, “Ah I’m just not gonna go vote, it doesn’t make a difference.” So if there is anything BTL can do to really highlight that, as strongly as people feel, it doesn’t make any difference unless they actually go vote. That is the only way that their voice is heard.

www.PrideSource.com

BRIEFS Peters As LGBT Ally:

Last Detroit Mattachine Society Officer To Speak In Ann Arbor

“

I was very active in the repeal of the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. I served as a former Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve and served with many men and women who are very patriotic, and I wasn’t concerned with what their sexual orientation was.

”

“

I have been fully supportive of marriage equality and a proud member of the LGBT caucus. I believe that people should have equal rights. These are basic human rights that apply to everybody.

”

On His Opponent Terri Lynn Land:

“ “

She doesn’t open herself up to any press interviews. She has refused a debate.

”

And actually, what really spoke volumes was when Dave Agema, her colleague on the RNC, said things that were extremely discriminatory and bigoted regarding the LGBT community; she was silent.

”

In honor of LGBT History Month, the remaining officer of the Detroit Area Council of the Mattachine Society, Jerry “Jai” Moore, will share his memories and experiences with gay activism in Ann Arbor. Professor Gayle Rubin will also share her remarks at the University of Michigan event. Detroit’s Mattachine Society offered sanctuary to gay and lesbian Detroiters who sought to organize in the 1950s and 60s, a time when homosexuals were arrested, institutionalized or ostracized. Members of the group, including Moore (who served as officer from 1958-1960), were instrumental in the social change that would sweep the nation in the latter half of the 20th century and beyond. The Detroit Mattachine records are currently a part of the Joseph A. Labadie Collection at U of M’s library. Moore and Professor Rubin will speak from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Hatcher Graduate Library, Gallery (Room 100), 913 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor. For more information, visit www.lib.umich.edu/events/ detroits-lgbt-heritage.

LGBTQ Youth Development Challenge Offers Trip To Denver UNITY Michigan will be offering an opportunity for LGBTQ youth across the state to reduce discrimination and improve legal protections while potentially winning a trip to Colorado. According to UNITY Michigan’s Melissa Fish, “The State Legislature is considering a proposed amendment to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act that would add legal protections against any form of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. We want to hear your ideas on how reducing discrimination would improve your life.” LGBTQ young people between the ages of 18-24 are asked to work in teams of two to submit a creative work or proposal, 1,200 words or less, on how the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act will directly benefit their lives in one or more of the following areas: education, employment and health care. Proposals will be reviewed by the UNITY Michigan Coalition on a 100 point scale. 25 points will come from the proposal’s ability to demonstrate a clear understanding of the act and proposed amendment, and 25 points will be judged on the execution of the statement of need. The remaining 50 points of scoring will come from the proposal’s “primary area of need and related questions.” The top two proposals will win a trip to Denver, Colo. for the next Creating Change Conference, which will be held Feb. 4-8, 2015. Expenses are not to exceed $1,200 per team. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 30. Completed proposals can be emailed to F.HopeREC@gmail.com. Learn more at www.unitymichigan.org.

ONLINE Peters Campaign www.petersformichigan.com Terri Lynn Land Campaign https://terrilynnland.com Please visit BTL’s Voter Guide 2014 @ www.MiVoterGuide.com or @ www.pridesource.com to see all the Equality endorsements for Nov. 4

Extended briefs are available online at: >> www.PrideSource.com

Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

Supreme Court Denies Seven Appeals In Five States Marriage Equality Will Soon Be Law In 11 More States BY LISA KEEN In a surprise development, the U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday that it would not accept for review any of the seven appeals on same-sex marriage bans from five states. The action means that the stays placed on lower court decisions in all five states – decisions that struck down bans on marriage for same-sex couples – are immediately lifted, making way for lower courts to issue orders requiring the states to stop enforcing their bans and begin issuing marriage licenses. The action also means that six other states in the same federal circuits as the five states which had appeals before the high court will have to abide by the federal appeals court rulings in those circuits. Otherwise, they take the unusual tact of asking their circuits for full bench review of their cases. A three-judge panel in all three circuits–the 4th, 7th and 10th – struck down the bans on marriage for same-sex couples. Very soon, same-sex couples will likely

BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

be able to marry in 30 states plus the District of Columbia, tipping the balance in favor of marriage equality from the previous 19 states and D.C. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that the 10th Circuit issued an order just minutes after the Supreme Court’s announcement was made public, lifting the stay in that state and alerting clerks in Utah that they should immediately abide by its ruling that the ban is unconstitutional. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers implied that the Supreme Court announcement denying review of the cases was tantamount to a ruling. “We have consistently maintained that we will abide by the Supreme Court’s determination on the constitutionality of marriage laws,” said Suthers in a press release. “By choosing not to take up the matter, the court has left the 10th Circuit ruling in place.” He said Colorado clerks “must begin issuing marriage licenses to all same-sex couples” soon after the Tenth Circuit issued its order. In Wisconsin, Republican Governor Scott

“

As soon as a solid split emerges, I fully expect the Court to grant (review). I’d watch the 6th Circuit if I were you,

”

- Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law scholar at Harvard University. Michigan’s marriage case is currently before the 6th Circuit.

Walker told reporters on his re-election campaign trail that the issue is “resolved” and there would be no further attempts to defend the state ban; Dane County announced it would issue licenses to same-sex couples immediately. The Indiana attorney general posted a statement indicating the state would begin issuing licenses “soon.” Many counties in the state have since begun issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The 4th Circuit issued its order mandating that states stop enforcing the bans at 1 p.m. EDT Monday. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, who has opposed that state’s ban, issued a press release saying that samesex couples could begin obtaining marriage licenses as soon as that order is issued. “Local clerks are receiving guidance and forms necessary to begin performing marriages today,” said Herring’s office, “and the Attorney General’s Office is working with the Governor’s Office and state agencies to implement any needed changes in light of this action.” “A new day has dawned, and the rights guaranteed by our Constitution are shining through,” said Herring in a press release Monday morning shortly after the Supreme Court issued its “Orders List” indicating that the seven appeals – including three from Virginia – were being denied. “This is a tremendous moment in Virginia history,” said Herring. “We will continue to fight discrimination wherever we find it, but today, we celebrate a moment when we move closer to fulfilling the promise of equality ignited centuries ago in Virginia and so central to the American experience.” Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which has been involved in the 10th Circuit case out of Utah, said NCLR is “thrilled.” “This is a huge step forward for Utah and the entire country,” said Minter. “We are hopeful that the other cases pending across the country

will also vindicate the freedom to marry, so that all couples, no matter where they travel or live, will be treated as equal citizens and have the same basic security and protections for their families that other Americans enjoy.” The Supreme Court’s announcement does not legally affect the remaining 20 states, but it could give courts in those other states and circuits some pause before upholding similar bans. Some experts say they expect the Supreme Court will almost certainly take up an appeal should a federal appeals court rule such bans to be constitutional. Prominent constitutional law scholar Laurence Tribe of Harvard University, who argued against bans on sodomy in the 1986 Bowers v Hardwick case, said “As soon as a solid split emerges, I fully expect the Court to grant (review),” said Tribe. “I’d watch the 6th Circuit if I were you.” A three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit heard oral arguments Aug. 6 in six marriage equality lawsuits from four states: Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. The panel has yet to issue its opinion, but questions from two of the three judges during the argument gave repeated voice to various justifications for the bans. Jon Davidson, national legal director for Lambda Legal, which is involved in a number of marriage equality cases, agrees that the Supreme Court will likely take a Circuit decision from the 6th or 5th Circuits if they conflict with the decisions rendered by the 4th, 7th, and 10th Circuits. But he said he doesn’t think the high court would consider an appeal from a future Circuit, such as the 9th, which might agree with the previous Circuits. Davidson said there is a way that the six states in the 4th, 7th and 10th Circuits — who were not part of Monday’s batch of seven cases — could try to avoid or delay allowing same-sex couples to marry in those states. He said a state, such as South Carolina, could try and appeal an existing case to the full circuit See Supreme Court Denies, page 11

www.PrideSource.com

Michigan marriage case plaintiffs in DeBoer v Snyder, Jayne Rowse and April DeBoer, on the 6th Circuit courthouse steps after their case was reviewed on Aug. 5. A ruling from the 6th Circuit is expected anytime. BTL file photo: AJ Trager

All Eyes On Michigan As Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Marriage Equality Cases BY TODD HEYWOOD The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court Monday (Oct. 6) to decline to hear multiple cases regarding marriage equality will soon result in 30 states and the District of Columbia offering legal same-sex marriage. Michigan, however, remains a state where same-sex marriages are not yet legal. In light of the rulings, however, experts in the state are eyeing the state’s appeal pending before the 6th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals. In that case, the state is arguing a federal district court judge erred when he struck down Michigan’s ban in March. For a brief period of less than 24 hours following the ruling by Judge Bernard Friedman, over 300 same-sex couples were able to legally marry in the state. Experts say the Michigan case could make it to the U.S. Supreme Court. “DeBoer v Snyder is a case that legal experts have anticipated could reach the Supreme Court because it is the only case that has had a trial,” says Sommer Foster, director of political advocacy at Equality Michigan. “We look forward to the 6th Circuit decision, and we hope that the court rules soon. I am not sure of the impact that this decision has on the 6th Circuit, but with 30 states allowing the freedom to marry and an additional 51 million Americans now living in states where folks can marry whom they love, we can see that marriage equality will become a reality

www.PrideSource.com

The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court Monday (Oct. 6) to decline to hear multiple cases regarding marriage equality will soon result in 30 states and the District of Columbia offering legal samesex marriage. Michigan, however, remains a state where same-sex marriages are not yet legal. in this state sooner or later.” Kari Moss, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan, was more cautious in her analysis of the role the DeBoer case might play in getting a Supreme Court hearing and ruling on the right to marriage equality. “I hate to try to read tea leaves when it comes to what the Supreme Court might do,” she said in a phone interview. However, she said the move by the court Monday morning to refuse to hear the pending cases could have an impact. “They had an opportunity to take up the question but declined. They essentially have allowed marriage equality in those states,” Moss said. “It shows the court has a level See All Eyes On Michigan, page 11

Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

Macomb County Extends LGBT Protections To Employees BY AJ TRAGER MACOMB COUNTY - Residents from all over the county came out to voice their support or disapproval at the Macomb County Board of Commissioners meeting on Sept. 18. The board approved the Human Rights Policy that prevents discrimination against LGBT county employees by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to a list of protected classes specified under county discriminatory protection law. The new policy will protect roughly 2,600 workers from being fired for their sexual orientation and gender identity and ensures that the county cannot refuse to hire new employees on that basis. The vote came down to a 8-5 split, mostly falling along party lines. Commissioners Don Brown, James Carabelli, Robert Mijac, Joe Sabatini and Kathy Vosburg cast the dissenting votes. Mijac, D-Sterling Heights, was the only Democrat to join the four Republican commissioners in voting against the policy. Commissioner Fred Miller, a Democrat from Mount Clemens, spearheaded the effort to get the policy through to a vote. It took him six months, and at least four drafts, but believes that this represents an “important step forward” for the county. “It was something that I was involved with for almost two terms,” Miller said. “I was interested since before I was elected, and it kept getting put off. Two things that added additional urgency: the passage of the ordinance in Sterling Heights and Colin, the young MSU student from Shelby who reached out to us, who emailed that the city (East Lansing) has protections, but his home county doesn’t, so ‘what gives?’” The four-page document specifically states that it “shall not be construed to require preferential treatment of any person,” including LGBT individuals, and

www.PrideSource.com

“

This action ensures that employees of Macomb County will be treated based solely on their merits, instead of on who they love.” - Commissioner Fred Miller, a Democrat from Mount Clemens, spearheaded the effort to get the policy through to a vote.

is meant to provide an additional layer of protections to the county’s human resources policy. “This action ensures that employees of Macomb County will be treated based solely on their merits, instead of on who they love,” Miller said. “This is an important example of how Macomb County is a place where tolerance and inclusion is the prevailing sentiment.” Though the city of Sterling Heights has the ability to mandate a citywide nondiscrimination ordinance, the county does not have that authority. The most Miller could do was put those protections in place for the employees. The next step in the process is to extend the protections for contractors and contract employees, which Miller says has a $630 million financial footprint. Miller and Macomb County now look towards the state to make the necessary changes to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which will provide full discriminatory protections for all Michiganders.

Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

Move Michigan Forward Nov. 4 BTL Strongly Endorses These Statewide Candidates Mark Schauer for MI Governor http://markschauer.com

Lisa Brown for Lt. Governor Gary Peters for U.S. Senate www.petersformichigan.com

Mark Totten for MI Attorney General www.marktotten.com

Godfrey Dillard for Secretary of State www.facebook.com/DillardforMichigan

MI Supreme Court (8 yr. term) State Board of Education WSU Governors Cassandra Ulbrich Marilyn Kelly Richard Bernstein Dana Thompson MSU Trustees MI Supreme Court (2 yr. term) Faylene Owen UofM Regents Deborah Thomas George Perles Mike Behm Katherine White

Get Your Complete 2014 Voter Guide The BTL LGBT & Progressive Voter Guide Is currently being developed and will be available online at www.pridesource.com or mivoterguide.com Candidates have been returning BTL Voter Questionaires. Endorsements for candiates running for State Senate and State House will be available online as informaiton is recevied.

Important Dates & Resources

Monday, Oct. 6 – Last day to register for Nov. 4 General Election Tuesday, Nov. 4 – General Election Check here for your current status as a registered voter in Michigan https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote

Available Online • Mobile App Ready

BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

www.PrideSource.com

® All

Eyes On Michigan

Continued from p. 7

of comfort with marriage equality and indicates they did not feel the issue had percolated enough in the states.” Moss said it is not uncommon for the nation’s high court to allow significant legal issues to bounce around in the lower courts awaiting distinct splits in the various appeals’ circuits before taking up cases. She said the decision may play a role in the 6th Circuit’s decision. “It’s certainly possible the 6th Circuit will consider the Supreme Court decision as relevant in their decision making process,” she said. Moss acknowledged the importance the Michigan case carried because of its extensive legal record. “The state has to be able to justify the ban with concrete evidence,” she said. “They weren’t able to do that. They had one expert witness disavowed by the university he was working for and another expert who was rejected by the judge as an expert.” Politically, the decision came the day after Bill Schuette, Michigan’s Republican Attorney General, told Michigan Public Radio he expected the court to hear an appeal from the state of Utah.

® Supreme

Schuette’s Democratic opponent in the general election, Mark Totten, issued a statement Monday saying the decision by the Supreme Court put Michigan’s position banning same-sex marriage “on the wrong side of the Constitution.”

That case was refused by the court. Schuette’s Democratic opponent in the general election, Mark Totten, issued a statement Monday saying the decision by the Supreme Court put Michigan’s position banning same-sex marriage “on the wrong side of the Constitution.”

Court Denies

Continued from p. 6

bench in hopes of getting a different decision than that issued by the circuit’s three-judge panel. That seems like a long shot but one that may have political benefits for governors or attorneys general in more conservative states. Mary Bonauto, civil rights director for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, said she thinks the Supreme Court’s announcement today sends “a powerful signal to the many other courts considering the issue that there is no reason to delay and perpetuate the harms to same-sex couples around the nation.” Bonauto won the landmark case in Massachusetts that led to the first state allowing same-sex couples to marry in 2004; she also led the successful effort to overturn a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act last year. Under this latest action, marriage equality will now be the law in Colorado, Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. Assuming no state attempts to get a different decision from their circuit, marriage equality will likely go into effect soon in Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming. If all 11 are added, the tally will be 30 states plus D.C. with marriage equality. “We obviously need to get to a national resolution, so the magic number is 50 states plus,” said GLAD’s Bonauto, “not 30.” Openly gay U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin ( D - Wi s c . ) c a l l e d t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t announcement Monday a “huge victory.” “ L o v e i s l o v e , f a m i l y i s f a m i l y, a n d discriminating against anyone’s love, against anyone’s family, is not only wrong, it’s

www.PrideSource.com

unconstitutional,” said Baldwin in a press release. “This is a huge step forward for our entire country being a place where every family’s love and commitment can be recognized and respected under the law.” Monday’s announcement came by way of a routine, but highly anticipated “Orders List” on the first official day of the Supreme Court’s 2014-15 session. As is typical, the document does not include any explanation for why the petitions for appeal were not granted. In order to take a case, four justices must agree before the high court grants a petition for appeal. The fact that the justices did not take any of the seven cases means that at least six of the nine justices refused to hear the appeals that sought to determine whether the marriage bans were constitutional. The fact that six justices refused the appeals in these seven cases bodes well for marriage equality should the court later decide to hear an appeal from marriage equality supporters, or should another circuit uphold the constitutionality of marriage bans.

Ben Shapiro

don’t usually read Breitbart.com because Andrew Breitbart is dead, and I don’t believe in ghosts. However, Media Matters steered me there to feast upon an impressive diatribe by Breitbart News Senior Editor Ben Shapiro titled, “SCOTUS Refuses Gay Marriage Cases, Ben Shapiro Effectively Makes Gay Marriage Law of the Land.” To clarify, this is not a celebratory headline for Shapiro. He is all mads of sad. In case you’re just emerging from a deep coma, the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 6 refused to hear the appeals of states whining and crying that they needed to keep their anti-gay marriage bans even though a Big Bad Federal Judge told them to GTFO. This means, of course, that the rulings against their discriminatory bans stand. And boy are anti-gay conservatives steamed! Shapiro echoes a recurring anti-gay anger-theme: “If only butt-sex was still illegal, we wouldn’t be in this mess!” He argues that SCOTUS shirked its responsibility to put a wooden stake into the heart of gay marriage by letting lower-court rulings stand. He writes, “(T)hey don’t even have to do their judicial dirty work anymore. They can rely on lower-level courts to violate the Constitution, then declare the Constitution magically changed because of an ‘emerging’ consensus on violating the Constitution.” In other words, Shapiro is saying that if SCOTUS waits long enough, marriageequality will become so common that people will collectively stop freaking out about it. And once there’s an agreement that it’s not a BFD, the Court will be all, “You’re stuck with this now. Leave us alone.” Shapiro argues that this is what the Court did when they ruled against state laws criminalizing sex between consenting same-sex adults in the 2003 case Lawrence v Texas, which overruled a 1986 ruling that arresting two dudes for doing it in the privacy of their own bedroom was totally cool and okay.

OPINION BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI In Shapiro’s words, the 2003 ruling stated “that anal penetration was a hardfought Constitutional right.” Because to folks like him, gay relationships are really no more than penis+butt=sex. The human part, the civil liberties part, the loving relationships part. That’s all liberal propaganda. Alas, Shapiro’s twisting and shouting about anal just can’t compete with the idea that gay and lesbian couples are human beings who are capable of love and deserve to be treated equally under the law. It’s hard to demonize gays when you have to think of them as more

To folks like Shapiro, gay relationships are really no more than penis+butt=sex. The human part, the civil liberties part, the loving relationships part. That’s all liberal propaganda.

than just faceless private parts mashing together. And we all know who the real losers are here: The People. The Not Gay People, specifically. Shapiro laments, “(T)he people have no recourse. They cannot pass laws that for two and a half centuries have been fully Constitutional. They cannot fight state attorneys general who betray their voters. They must sit by as the courts play legal games…” Oh, those poor, powerless anti-gay defenders of discrimination. How SCOTUS has hurt their feels. Never in this history of this country have “laws that for … centuries have been fully Constitutional” been declared bullshit for, say, being racist or sexist. This is all so new. As for sitting “by as the courts play legal games,” maybe he should ask Vivian Boyack, 91, and Alice ‘Nonie’ Dubes, 90, together for 72 years before finally being allowed to legally marry in Iowa last month. If only it were still legal to arrest these women for crimes against nature, America would be on the moral high ground as Shapiro defines it. Damn you, SCOTUS!

Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

Hick’s Oval Office Lavender Parting Glances

OPINION BY CHARLES ALEXANDER

t was during a rainy October night 82 years ago aboard a 20th Century Limited train returning to Washington, D.C. that the love between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena “Hick” Hickok got started. Their love would last for 30 years and go the full distance of their busy lives. (Ken Burn’s current TV series, “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History” is receiving rave reviews by viewers and entertainment critics.) Eleanor – soon to become America’s First Lady, and later in her long life, America’s Ambassador to the United Nations – had asked Ms. Hickok, an AP journalist covering Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1932 Democratic presidential campaign, to keep her company in Eleanor’s private compartment. She was returning from a friend’s funeral and didn’t want to make the sad journey alone. As the 20th Century Limited whistled through unseen towns and sleepy villages, quiet twilight hours, they each spoke of hidden hurts and cautiously Hicks shared her secret shame. She was raped by her father and kicked out of the house at age 14. (Perhaps Eleanor spoke of her husband’s philandering, and FDR’s love affair with Eleanor’s social secretary Lucy Mercer. Divorce was not an option, so she remained FDR’s wife in name only.) At Christmas time, Hick gave Eleanor a gift of a sapphire and diamond ring. The ring was given to Hick by the world famous soprano, Madame Ernestine Schumann-Heink, in appreciation for a musically sound newspaper interview. Eleanor would find the treasure to be a lasting comfort. That and Hick’s requisite kiss on her cheek. Truth to tell, Eleanor and Hick were something of odd ducks together. Eleanor was taller, rather plain. Hick was stout and rather butch. Eleanor didn’t smoke or drink. Hick took gladly to cigars, whiskey, four-letter fustian. Little wonder! Her great grandfather was Wild Bill Hickok. (In passing: Detroit’s out Congregational Church pastor, Rev. William “Will” Lange, is related to both Wild Bill and Hick.) The first woman to earn a New York Times byline, Hick’s beats included sports, crime, government. “Everybody loves Hick,” said a journalist coworker. (The same coworker, by the way, that Hick once tried to seduce.) Hick was not Eleanor’s only lesbian contact. Eleanor had a business partnership with a Greenwich Village couple. The three friends made furniture for sale and ran a school for young women. “No form of love is to be despised,” was Eleanor’s progressive opinion. Hick was a catalyst. She encouraged Eleanor to hold press conferences (358 in all), to write for newspaper syndication (8,000 My Day columns) and to earn financial independence by writing for magazines. Each exposure added to Eleanor’s political and intellectual stature, and so importantly, to her self confidence. Soon, however, the duties of First Lady took precedence over intimacy. Meetings with Hick and their circle of closeted lesbian friends became fewer; hand holding less. Their relationship continued mostly by hastily whispered, “Je t’aime.” President Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented four consecutive terms. He died in office on April 12, 1945, four months before World War II ended in Europe (I was 9 at the time. In our Burton School piano class, we sang patriotic songs to mourn him.) When the Eleanor/Hick correspondence became public in 1978, an astonished America learned that Eleanor’s idea of her husband’s Democratic New Deal policy included a bright touch of lavender in the Oval Office.

BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

Viewpoint OPINION BY CHARIN DAVENPORT

Civil Rights For All Means Including Trans

f you are a transgender resident of Michigan, if you are a friend of the transgender community, if someone in your family is a transgender person or if you believe all residents of our state, including gay and transgender people, deserve the same rights – you need to know that those of us who are transgender in Michigan are, at this moment, in a fight for our lives. Proposed amendments to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act would prevent discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. That is a good thing. Studies show that most Michiganders believe everyone should be treated fairly and equally, but at the same time, an astonishing number of people think transgender people are already protected from discrimination by existing laws. Yet, this is not the case; it is still legal in Michigan to deny a transgender person employment, access to public facilities or housing simply because that person is transgender. As a result of such discrimination, transgender people experience extremely high rates of unemployment, homelessness, poverty and suicide, despite having high levels of education and a clear willingness to serve our communities. (For instance, transgender people are twice as likely to have served in the Armed Forces.) These facts simply cannot be reconciled with the notion that we are already protected. It just is not true. Some people argue that a partial victory, one which protects only lesbian, gay and bi-affectionate people, is enough of a victory “for now,” even if it means leaving

You need to know that those of us who are transgender in Michigan are, at this moment, in a fight for our lives. transgender Michiganders stranded at the side of the road. Those who would take out gender identity lack an understanding of what it means to be transgender or to encounter discrimination in all aspects of their lives. This view also sits in stark contrast to the best practices in many other states and throughout the business community that view broad protections for people of diverse gender identities, sexual orientation and gender expressions as essential to retaining a skilled workforce and building a prosperous economy that benefits us all. Ample evidence from many other states reveals that it is all but impossible to “come back” and fix a shortsighted law after it is passed – this would hold all of us back. But to the transgender community, our LGB brothers and sisters and our supporters, I have this to say: you must stay positive. You have powerful stories to tell, and there are ways you See Viewpoint: Civil Rights next page

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Viewpoint

From Dreams to Action: Economic Empowerment As A Social Justice Tool OPINION BY RHIANNON L. CHESTER

uring the week of Sept. 24–27, I attended the National Black Justice Coalition’s “Annual Black LGBT Leadership Summit: Out on the Hill” in Washington D.C. This year’s summit was themed, “Emancipation Campaign: What does freedom mean to you?” During the week, we explored economic empowerment, lobbied around our issues on Capitol Hill and attended a national town hall about the Pan-African Progressive Movement for “LGBTI Dignity, Inclusion and Justice.” Some of us attended the Congressional Black Caucus’s 44th Annual Legislative Conference while others were invited to Black LGBT Leaders Day at the White House for a briefing about “HIV Among Gay and Bisexual Men.” Finally, there was a “State of the Black LGBT Community” where we discussed our role in the LGBT movement and in black America. The week began with “Many Faces One Dream: LGBT Economic E m p o w e r m e n t To u r N a t i o n a l Stakeholders Briefing” held at NASA Headquarters. Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA), Industrial Bank, TD Bank, Black Enterprise, Nation Black Justice

® Viewpoint:

Civil Rights

Continued from p. 12

can tell them. First: On Nov. 4, you must vote. If you are a transgender person and worried about going to the polls because of issues with your photo ID, then vote early by mail with an absentee ballot. But make sure you vote! No excuses. Second: Talk to your local business leaders and urge them to advocate for updating the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect all LGBT people. From the start, this amendment has been about a strong and unified Michigan working together toward economic prosperity for all Michiganders. Remind business leaders of our contributions and our voices. Third: Write your state legislators, city

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Equality does not equal equity.

Coalition (NBJC) and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) sat on panels throughout the day that focused on various aspects of economic empowerment and financial literacy. To set the tone of the day, a message was given that “economic empowerment could be used as a way to help solve social issues.” With that statement is where I enter; the majority of the issues in society are financialbased issues, for example: poverty, hunger and homelessness. The mission of the SBA is to create jobs through assisting small businesses: “55% of all jobs are created by small business and 66% of all new jobs since the 1970s.” A base can move even issues like a lack of political voice and access to health care with the dollars behind their words. Data based on communities is taken to legislators and presented as buying power. Sharon Lettman-Hicks, executive director of NBJC, told us “equality does not equal equity.” Equity is often referred to in the social justice realm as acknowledging barriers to access and eliminating barriers to full participation

of all people. During the briefing, we focused not only on access, but also on equity in terms of ownership. As we determine the LGBT agenda, we must realize that the right to marry has less weight in the lives of people who don’t have access to employment, health and housing. Beyond working, how are we building ownership in the community so that we may move from consumers to producers? Producers of jobs, producers of goods, and most importantly, producers of possibilities to people who look like us. As the program coordinator at KICK, I accept the charge of providing accessible information about financial literacy throughout our Careers & Employment quarter. In moving our dreams to action, we must not only have the vision and determination, but also the discipline to do the work in between.

councils, county commissions and local newspapers and tell them the transgender community is fighting for fair housing practices, health insurance that addresses our health needs, access to health care, employment rights, equal rights on the job, equal access to a good education, safe schools, an end to unwarranted police scrutiny and harassment, the right to be with our children, access to public accommodations, fair and equal representation as taxpaying citizens ... we have been giving back to Michigan communities for many years, and we need the safety and protection to keep giving back, right here, in the state we love.

a statewide group of transgender and genderqueer persons, provides advocacy leadership toward equality for Michigan’s transgender and genderqueer community. The undersigned organizations concur with the sentiments expressed in this editorial.

Charin Davenport lives in Bay City and is a member of the Trans* Leadership Project and the Transgender Michigan board of directors. The Trans* Leadership Project,

Rhiannon L. Chester is program coordinator at KICK - The Agency for Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender African-Americans. She can be reached at rhiannonchester@e-kick. org. Learn more about KICK at www.ekick.org

Trans* Leadership Project Transgender Michigan Gender Identity Network Alliance Unity Michigan Coalition comprised of The ACLU of Michigan Equality Michigan KICK Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center Affirmations Ruth Ellis Center

SHOP LGBT Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

LGBT Bowling Tournament Strikes Metro Detroit This Weekend BY MIKE ODOM It will be an action-packed weekend for competitors of the 29th Annual Motown Invitational Classic (MIC), Michigan’s oldest and largest LGBT bowling tournament that is scheduled to take place October 10–12 at Super Bowl in Canton. With more than $10,000 in cash prizes, including singles, doubles and team awards, optional division jackpots and 50/50 raffles, the MIC tournament attracts on average more than 200 bowlers and non-bowler participants who attend every year from cities across the U.S. and Canada. In addition to the prizes, this year’s “Super Heroes and Villains” theme will provide entertainment throughout the weekend by randomly matching bowlers with some of the most courageous heroes and dastardly villains in the Marvel and DC Universe. According to Bill Havican, 2014 MIC CoDirector, the theme is a nod to the energy and excitement already taking place in metro Detroit as a result of the filming of the “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” blockbuster movie. “There will be plenty of chances for our participants to have fun with our super heroes and villains theme, including a costume contest in our hospitality suite and mini-games during tournament play,” said Havican. “The changing MIC tournament theme is an annual tradition that provides a one-ofa-kind experience, creating meaningful opportunities for fun and camaraderie.” On Friday, an optional 9-Pin No Tap Singles event starts at 9 p.m. and will kick off the tournament weekend allowing out-of-town bowlers to test the lanes the day before the MIC competition begins. No Tap scoring allows bowlers who roll a count of “9” on their first ball to be counted as a strike. “The 9-Pin has always been a popular event that gives the opportunity for bowlers of any skill level, regardless as to whether or not they are registed in

BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

the MIC tournament, to bowl alongside our competitors,” said Havican. “We always invite the local community to come out for the 9-Pin and experience what friendly-competition is all about.” Cost is $20 per bowler and includes three games, shoe rental and first and second game mystery jackpots. Registration begins at 8 p.m., and event

organizers encourage anyone who is interested in bowling to arrive early since the event sells out every year. The MIC tournament begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the Singles competition, which is immediately followed by the Doubles event once all bowlers have changed lanes. On Sunday, bowlers start at 10 a.m. in the Team event, consisting of four bowlers per team. All three events use handicap scoring based upon certified bowling averages for each participant.

INFO Motown Invitational Classic >> For more information regarding the

MIC tournament and local LGBT bowling leagues in metro Detroit, visit www.mictournament.org.

An optional Scratch Masters event begins at 1:30 p.m., which uses nonhandicapped scores, requires bowlers to qualify in order to compete and is separated by four divisions based on individual average. According to 2014 MIC Co-Director, Linda Jackson, all MIC events are open to spectators who want to stop by and enjoy the competitive atmosphere. “Tournament spectators can have just as much fun as the bowlers themselves,” said Jackson. “Whether you are supporting a loved one or are interested in making new friends, we encourage the local community to take advantage of this one-of-a-kind opportunity and join us tournament weekend.” In addition to the MIC participants, representatives from this year’s benefiting nonprofit charities will have staff and volunteers on-hand to sell 50/50 tickets, raising money and awareness for each local organization. The charities include the Ruth Ellis Center, Higher Ground, Michigan Animal Adoption Network and Affirmations. Since its inception, MIC event organizers have supported numerous local nonprofits with fundraising events, strategic partnerships and raffles over the course of the annual tournament weekend. “This year, we also will hold a special coat drive for local runaway and homeless LGBTQ youth who seek assistance this winter season from the Ruth Ellis Center,” said Jackson. “Each bowler who brings in a coat or article of clothing, like a thermal shirt or underwear, will receive a strip of tournament raffle tickets. We hope this effort makes a positive impact on the lives of local LGBTQ youth who are in the greatest of need.” Once the tournament is completed, top rankings will be determined for each individual category as well as optional divisions with prizes and awards distributed at an awards banquet Sunday evening. MIC is a member tournament for the International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO), the largest international gay and lesbian sports organization in the world. IGBO boasts more than 5,000 members in the U.S., Canada and Australia, with plans to expand its presence to several European countries.

www.PrideSource.com

Michigan For Marriage Announces New Co-Chairs BY BTL STAFF Any day now, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals will release the decision that will determine marriage equality for four U.S. states. In the midst of this anticipation, a bipartisan group of respected state leaders has stepped forward to be Co-Chairs of Michigan for Marriage, the state’s marriage equality campaign. Michigan for Marriage launched in May as a public education campaign and aims to broaden the marriage conversation across the state, showcase the diversity of Michiganders who support marriage equality and send a message that Michigan is ready for marriage. The Right Reverend Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr., the 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan; Congressman Dan Kildee; former Republican Speaker of the House Chuck Perricone; and AFL-CIO President Karla Swift will join as co-chairs and help push the mission of Michigan for Marriage forward. “Same-sex couples love each other, raise children and support their families no differently than opposite-sex couples,” Swift said. “The government’s refusal to recognize these relationships deprives thousands of Michigan families the ability to take care of and provide for their family members.” In a poll released in March by the Washington Post, 59 percent of Americans are now in favor of allowing same-sex couples to marry. Bipartisan support is strong in the push for marriage equality with a New York Times/CBS News poll that found 56 percent of Republicans under the age of 45 support marriage equality. “I’m proud to stand with the majority of Michiganders in favor of equal rights for loving couples in our state, and I look forward to the day – hopefully real soon – where our nation’s laws that discriminate against gays and lesbians are tossed aside,” Kildee said. “Everyone’s love should be recognized and equal.” With an amendment to Elliott-Larsen being debated in Lansing, the country waits to hear the results from marriage equality court cases and from the upcoming election in November, where Michigan will have a chance to elect two LGBT members into the state House. “In my opinion, picking and choosing whose rights should be protected or which civil rights the church will support is neither American ‘justice for all’ nor supported by the God of salvation history,” Gibbs said. “I stand in support of marriage equality and pray that our justice system will work to break down the walls of segregation, promote the humanity of all and calm our irrational fears.”

www.PrideSource.com

Co-Chair Bishop Wendell N. Gibbs is the 10th Bishop of Michigan’s Episcopal Diocese. He received his B.A. in Business Administration from Towson State University in 1977 and graduated in 1987 with a Master’s in Divinity from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. Gibbs has been with his his wife, Karlah Abrose York, for 25 years. Gibbs, who currently lives in Southeastern Michigan, is a strong supporter of marriage equality for all of God’s children and looks forward to a day when all faith and covenantal relationships between any two people are recognized within the society and the church. Congressman Dan Kildee represents Michigan’s 5th District and is a lifelong Michigan resident. He served three decades as an elected official in Genesee County. In his 1977 election to the Flint Board of Education, Kildee became one of the youngest elected officials in the nation. He has spent 24 years with his wife Jennifer, and they currently reside in Flint Township. Former Speaker of the House Chuck Perricone served on the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2000 and was Speaker during his final term. He is the founder and CEO of the Perricone Group, and he advises corporate, business and education leaders. He is the publisher of Dome Magazine, which provides readers with a local understanding of what’s happening in Michigan’s public policy. Perricone believes in family, freedom and the fundamental idea that each person’s dignity, liberty, ability and responsibility must be honored. AFL-CIO President Karla Swift is a rank-and-file member of UAW Local 483 and worker at General Motors. She served as State Director of We Are the People – a diverse coalition of students, seniors and laborers fighting to protect Michigan’s middle class. Swift has devoted her life to making sure workers are able to provide for their families, citing the labor movement’s dedication to equality and fairness for all people. She proudly voiced her support for the efforts of the Michigan for Marriage coalition. She lives in Livonia with her husband of 37 years, Mike.

RELATED STORIES

See BTL’s reporting (p. 6-7) on the Oct. 6 U.S. Supreme Court decision to not take any of the marriage cases on appeal and what it may mean for Michigan’s marriage case.

Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

Photo: Robert Sebree

Icon On Her Legacy, The ‘Nostalgia’ Of Youth & Why Beyoncé Is ‘Feminist Lite’ BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

hey don’t make hearts bigger than the one beating inside of Annie Lennox. Despite the icon’s legendary recording career, dating back to the late ’70s, music has taken a backseat to another passion: people. While still dedicated to philanthropic work focused on causes like HIV/ AIDS and global peace, the singersongwriter returns with her first disc in four years, a covers album called

BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

“Nostalgia.” On the heels of its release, Lennox called from London for a frank conversation about loathing her “gender bender” label, the reframing of feminism (Beyoncé is “feminist lite,” she says) and being uneasy with the superficiality of the music business.

During a recent Q&A in London, you mentioned that you stopped writing because, and I quote you, “I’m too happy.”

I said a lot of things that night! To be honest, looking back on being creative and what that was about and where the impulse lies to express yourself – there was a lot of darkness in my life. For everyone, we have our own darkness and our light, and I even wrote about that. You know, I’ve been through a lot. It’s coming up on my sixth decade now, and I have less of the impulse to express myself in that way. I feel as if I express myself very well in other ways. I branched

out, you know? Since I started campaigning a decade ago, I’ve got this need to voice myself and place myself into a certain kind of activism. I find that so inspiring and such a great thing to do, but for the last year I’ve also decided, “OK, I wanna make some music and that is ‘Nostalgia.’” So, I haven’t been able to be as proactive (philanthropically) this year as I normally am. I’m one of those people who, when I do something, I have to do it all the way.

You mention “the darkness,” something you seem to have been attracted to for a good part of your musical career, and also one of the reasons people are drawn to you. I don’t know if I’m attracted to darkness. I couldn’t say “attracted.” I pick up on that because it is interesting, isn’t it? Maybe we are drawn to it. Maybe it’s already a prerequisite within ourselves. I mean, humans have this capacity to be so joyful and so full of love, and

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sweet and light and all of those innocent things – like when you see children, you see how we are before we become adolescents, and we’re different. I see children every day because they pass my house as they go to play in the park – 6 year olds who are skipping, and they’re dancing and they’re singing and they’re playing together. If you saw adults doing that, you’d think they were mad – you’d think they were completely bonkers! That joy should be our inheritance, but a lot of that gets hammered out of us, I think, because the world is a fucking dark place – excuse my French – but it truly, truly is. But there’s also beauty in it.

It sounds like you’ve found a lot of beauty in your own life lately. Why not a write a joyous album? (Laughs) Ehh. It’s funny; it’s really strange. You’re talking about this thing called the “muse” in a way. There’s something called the muse that people refer to – writers and poets – and I don’t know what that is. It’s kind of an urge, an itch you have to scratch, and right now I’m very inspired – truly inspired – and this album for me has been an absolute pleasure and a real joy. I love the songs. I love the music. I love translating them into my own kind of arrangements and sounds. Recently, when we went to LA, I made nine really amazing performance videos with this wonderful filmmaker, Natalie Johns, and I’m so proud of what Natalie has done with me collaboratively. I think it’s beautiful, and I’m a bit like, “Wow, getting the chance to still do this, it’s great.” Like I said, I struggle a lot. And life – it just never stops being interesting in a way.

While we’re talking about life and “Nostalgia,” what about your own life makes you feel nostalgic? If I look back at my own life, it goes right back to the ’50s. I was 6 years old when it turned into 1960, you see, so I still have very strong memories of my childhood in Scotland – my upbringing, how that was. There was a lot of hardship, and my background – I don’t come from a silver spoon. It was never handed to me. It was working class, and you had to work damn hard; I’m talking about my parents and their grandparents before them. I remember a time when there were hardly any motor cars on the road. I remember the man coming to light the gas lights on the street. Stuff like this – it’s really nostalgic. I don’t want to go back, obviously. Anyway, one can’t. There is no turning back, but sometimes I just kind of yearn for a gentler time. I say it was “gentler,” but looking

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back through “Nostalgia,” through this American Songbook, I also understand that going back to the ’30s in the United States and in so many parts of the world – this is pre-civil rights, before the movement had really got up and running. It’s like the voice of the civil rights movement was not being really acknowledged and the platform wasn’t as big as it became through Martin Luther King and all the work of these incredible activists. If you think about it, it’s really not that long since people were in the closet about gay rights. It’s been extraordinary. I think that it’s accelerating in the West. I think that things are changing radically, and some things – many things – for the good. Other things I think will be challenging for people because now we have a whole new paradigm and it’s complex, as human beings are. There will be upsides and there will be downsides, and it won’t just be heaven on a stick.

Because you’ve always embraced your LGBT audience, your music has been a safe place for many people who identify as such. What do you attribute to the loyalty of your gay fan base? You see, that’s a question you have to ask the people that you’re describing. I can’t answer for the gay community. I truly can’t. I just make music, and I have no idea who is going to listen to it. I’m just the person that I am. When I was given this label of “gender bender,” I really felt it was diminishing in a way. It was very simplistic. I wasn’t bending gender; I was making a statement in a kind of subtle way. I thought it was subtle, but to some people it might have seemed overt. I was saying, “Look, as a woman I can be equal to a man,” and in this partnership with the Eurythmics, where I was in a partnership with a man (Dave Stewart), the two of us felt so connected that my gender didn’t matter. In a funny sort of way, ultimately I was coming out to say, “Look, I’m not going to be what you think I am. I’m intelligent. I’m not a dancing doll just because I’m female and I’m singing. I’m not singing for your pleasurable entertainment. It’s not about that. It’s cerebral and it’s heartfelt and it’s intelligent.” This is something I’ve been saying to a lot of my gay compadres: One day we’ll get rid of this word “gay,” because it’s irrelevant. Of course it’s terribly relevant when you are trying to create a campaign. During a human rights movement, it’s terribly important to have labels and to have platforms that are very identifiable, but ultimately we should just be fine with everybody no matter what our sexual orientation is.

It’s nobody’s effing business.

Our use of labels is evolving. So many people are resisting them or calling themselves “queer” because it’s a broader term. Even that – no. It’s diminishing. Broaden out. And it will come.

As a longtime feminist, how do you feel about the way the term “feminist” has been reframed in contemporary culture? It’s a process. It continues to be reframed, and necessarily so, because people’s relationship to the word has been a bit ambivalent over the last few decades. According to who you speak to, they don’t sometimes quite know what to do with the word. I did one event in particular called (Barclays) Women of the Year and they select certain people for certain kinds of recognition, and I was given an award not so long ago. I was so touched to have this award. I felt like I’m with a certain kind of camaraderie here and we’re all together in this room – 400 women from all walks of life – and I said at the podium, “I’m proud to be a feminist; let’s everybody stand up.” Half of the room stayed seated. It was such a hard moment for me because I realized that some women, many women, still have issues with the word and almost distance themselves from it because they’re afraid it’s synonymous with hating men.

Which is something you don’t believe to be true, right? Not at all. I think that what happened over the years, and quite rightly so, is that women had to be incredibly radical, stringent and strident about the voice of feminism. They had to do that, but I think that nowadays it’s a more subtle thing. But we need men to be onboard with us. That’s my view. Some women might disagree with me. I’m not saying I hold the key to the absolute truth – I’m not saying that at all – but I also feel very much that the LGBTQ movement and the women’s movement need to get together far more frequently because we’re coming from the same place of human rights and civil rights.

So what do you make of someone like Beyoncé? She recently performed on the MTV Video Music Awards and proclaimed herself a “feminist” during her set. I would call that “feminist lite.” L-IT-E. I’m sorry. It’s tokenistic to me. I mean, I think she’s a phenomenal artist – I just love her performances – but I’d like to sit down (with her). I think I’d like to sit down with quite a few artists and talk to them. I’d like to listen to See Annie Lennox, page 18

Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

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them; I’d like to hear what they truly think. I see a lot of it as them taking the word hostage and using it to promote themselves, but I don’t think they necessarily represent wholeheartedly the depths of feminism – no, I don’t. I think for many it’s very convenient and it looks great and it looks radical, but I have some issues with it. I have issues with it. Of course I do. I think it’s a cheap shot. I think what they do with it is cheap and ... yeah. What can I tell you? Sex always sell. And there’s nothing wrong with sex selling, but it depends on your audience. If they’re 7-year-old kids, I have issues with it.

and utterly downplay it – but you can play it up if you want. You can have them following you 24/7 if you want that kind of life. Some people do. I mean, bizarrely, people seem to want it. I’ve never understood why.

Is it true that you may never write again and that this may be your last album?

Who knows. I don’t know. I say this because I’m aware that I’m not a young person, but I’m so spirited in myself – it’s really strange. Just because I’m almost 60 now, it doesn’t mean that I’m less passionate or less intensely curious about the world around me. In fact, I’m even more curious about it in another kind of way. There’s this youth culture that is really, really powerful and really, really strong, but what it does is it really discards people once For years, you’ve resisted the “celebrity” they reach a certain age. I actually think that moniker. You don’t like to think of yourself as people are so powerful that. and interesting – No, I don’t. Again, I women, especially – feel quite diminished when they reach my by it. Obviously, I’m age. We’ve got so much To feel like an intelligent, sometimes given that to say, but popular moniker, but every time rounded person with integrity, I culture is so reductive it happens I feel reduced that we just talk about don’t think that you can just be an whether we’ve got by it. I cringe inside. entertainer. I think there’s another wrinkles, or whether When somebody sees we’ve put on weight or you on the street and side – to me, anyway – that lost weight, or whether reacts to you in the way we’ve changed our hair needs to be satisfied, and that some people react to style. I just find that so a “celebrity,” how does shallow. Because it’s a is through contribution. that make you feel shallow place, it’s one of the reasons the music then? industry and the music It depends on how scene is really not truly it’s done. Sometimes for me and never really people are so, so has been. sweet and it’s so

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touching, and it’s very human because they approach me in a way where I don’t feel uncomfortable. It’s just a human exchange. Of course I try to just go in the street and be like everybody else. I’ve always done that. I don’t want to be singled out, but of course being a person in the public eye, from time to time, you will be. People will see the projection that they know you to be. In that sense, I’m who I am as a person and I’m also this projection for people, so I cannot be tough on people that recognize me because I’ve been doing this for years now. The only time when it becomes incredibly uncomfortable is when people are just a bit thoughtless and invade in such a way where they really don’t think. They kind of treat you like a species in a safari park, and really, it’s awful. It’s so terrible.

Camera phones haven’t made things any better in that regard, have they? I think it’s far worse when people are paid to steal your image. They pay money for that stolen image of you and you have no control over it – but they’re making money out of it! I mean, I haven’t played into that paparazzi thing – I’ve just tried to completely

BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

Have you thought about the legacy you want to leave? I can’t think about legacy. I guess if you go onto the Internet you can find many things that were created over all of these years, and I guess that is the legacy. It is the music that’s been made, the interviews, the video, the photo shoots, and there were so many creative things that happened and they’re there. I have no control over what people think about it. They may love it; they may hate it.

But your legacy is more than just music. You’re a humanitarian. It’s beyond just creating albums and making videos, right? You’re part of the bigger picture. Well, thank you; that makes me feel complete, because to feel like an intelligent, rounded person with integrity, I don’t think that you can just be an entertainer. I think there’s another side – to me, anyway – that needs to be satisfied, and that is through contribution. I do it because I feel so despondent about the world at times. I feel I must do something, otherwise I feel useless. I’m not going to ever save the world, but because I have resources, I can at least make a contribution.

www.PrideSource.com

Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

Hear Me Out

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

Melissa Etheridge, Lee Ann Womack into a drum-driven, fiddle-strung ditty. “The Way I’m Livin’,” the title track, leans closer to the deep Texan twang of ominous, snake-slitherin’ badassery. “If I ever get to heaven, it’s a doggone shame,” Womack sings, sounding as fiery as the flames she’s dancing in. “Don’t Listen to the Wind” sends a simple guitar into a tornado of sonic madness. It’s a satisfying adrenaline rush. Womack, who’s even better at fragile laments, could dry out a drenched towel with piano tearjerker “Send It on Down,” an inspiring ode to getting your shit together. Not every song on “The Way I’m Livin’” reaches that caliber of melody and poignancy, but the album’s still like having a devil on your back. Some of it’s just so hard to shake. Grade: B

Also Out

Melissa Etheridge, ‘This Is M.E.’ Since going indie, Melissa Etheridge must be feeling as free as when she first came out gay two decades ago. Throughout the punny, super-charged “This Is M.E.,” the loose feels of liberation are ever-present as the lesbian icon gets her feet wet in foreign waters (2010’s “Fearless Love” suggested experimental restlessness). But when you team up with Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis, producer of the Fugees, and RoccStar, who’s laid down tracks for Usher and Chris Brown, you don’t get straight-up rock ’n’ roll; you get smatterings of R&B and soul. Considering this is the same scorned woman who bit into “Bring Me Some Water,” a song like “A Little Hard Hearted,” with its full-on sing-along pop hook, is initially jarring. A few listens later and you’ve got that thing on replay. Then there’s the flirty, seemingly autobiographical “Take My Number,” which rumbles with the rock-lite flair of her commercial ’90s-era zenith. Come chorus, a catchy “drink / think” rhyme makes it so convincing, so irresistible, you won’t be able to help yourself – you’d better take that number. With vexed kiss-off “Ain’t That Bad” and the soaring Wonda-influenced “Monster,”

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and even the raging “Stranger Road,” Etheridge maintains her essence, but she’s also wearing many different hats. They don’t always fit – the rambling “Who Are You Waiting For” is Melissa’s faltering attempt at a mushy power ballad – but sometimes finding the right one takes a few tries. Grade: BLee Ann Womack, ‘The Way I’m Livin’’ Lee Ann Womack’s mega-ballad “I Hope You Dance,” y o u r m o m ’s favorite song, and the sleek crossover LP “Something Worth Leaving Behind” thrust her into the mainstream, but, at heart, Lee Ann Womack was always more of a country girl. Reveling in the traditional Southern sounds she’d eventually pursue, the Grammy winner’s first album in seven years – a grower – is a roots-based disc centered on down-hominess, heartbreak and devil worship. Most reminiscent of her pop-country phase, “Same Kind of Different” imparts a ties-that-bind sentiment as its a cappella opening eases

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, ‘Cheek to Cheek’ After the dire nonsuccess of Lady Gaga’s “ARTPOP,” it was time for Mother Monster to take a step back. Arm in arm with Tony Bennett, she does just that on “Cheek to Cheek,” harkening back to the old-timey jazz classics of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Duke Ellington. It won’t do anything to advance Gaga’s career, and the 88-yearold Bennett’s legendary status is obviously already well established, but there are moments of undeniable sweetness on an otherwise dull venture, where the sole purpose seems to be bridging the gap between gays and grandpas. Lucinda Williams, ‘Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone’ In a singles-driven industry with less interest in the fullalbum format, it’s ambitious of Lucinda Williams to release two of them at the same time. The altcountry icon’s 11th outing, a music purist’s dream, is a double-disc set steeped in Williams’ signature line-blurring. From country to blues and folk and rock, “Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone” encompasses it all. Its biggest feat: never feeling as long as its actual runtime. With music this powerful, even 103 minutes is too short.

SHOP LGBT Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

The Frivolist Stylish Subscription Services To Wake Up Your Fall Wardrobe BY MIKEY ROX There’s more to autumn than apple pie this and pumpkin spice that. One of the best things about fall, in fact, is that we get to unpack the sweaters, scarves and other cool-weather clothing (most of us anyway), which provide many more outfit options than we have during summer. Sure, there’s plenty to be said about the lack of layers when the mercury is at its peak, but the latter months of the year have their own perks – like dapper dudes in button-downs, blazers and kick-ass boots. Now you can join the club – quite literally – and step up your own style this fall with these subscription services that bring fresh perspective to your wardrobe, delivered direct to your door.

1. Five Four Club If you’ve ever wanted a personal stylist to help you look your best even though you’re on a budget, Five Four Club may just be your materialistic messiah. The service – which if you do the math equals a “one-ofa-kind service with a one-of-a-kind value” – provides members with deep discounts on fresh duds that your closet already covets. Four distinct boxes are available – for personalities that range from “Dress to Impress” to “T-Shirt and Jeans” – the cost of which is less than half the retail price of the items inside. fivefourclothing.com

2. Trunk Club For high-end clothing handpicked to reflect your personal style, Trunk Club has you covered. Unlike many of the other clothing boxes, however, this isn’t a monthly service and there’s no upfront membership fee. Rather, you can request shipments at any time, try on the surprises inside at home, and decide what suits you. Whatever you don’t like you can return, and after 10 days

22 BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

you’ll be charged for the items you decide to keep. Trunk Club isn’t for everyone, though; this premium service is on par with top-tier shops that offer denim, casual shirts and sweaters in the $100 to $300 per-piece range. trunkclub.com

3. Bombfell Like other monthly boxes, Bombfell personal stylists are hard at work handpicking each item specifically for you, but you can maintain some measure of control if you’d like: You have the ability to skip the uncertainty and personally select the type of items that you’re sent, like “2 button-downs and a pair of jeans,” for instance. Once your box is prepared, you’ll be sent a preview e-mail so you can cancel or change anything you like within 48 hours of receipt. Individual pieces hover at an average of $69, and shipping is free both ways. bombfell.com

4. Curator and Mule Now that you’re all set with tops and bottoms, you’ll need accessories to personalize those new outfits – which is Curator and Mule’s speciality. Each season, the service discovers the hottest hats, shades, wallets and more to make you stand out from the crowd. Four or five pieces are then packed into a box and sent your way for $60 per season with an option to sit one out. Past brands have included private labels like Wovenn, UrbanCow and Evolution Man. curatorandmule.com

5. Zoraab Give your feet a pick-me-up with funkyfresh socks from Zoraab, a monthly subscription service that lets you customize your experience until your piggies are

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content. Choose your socks from four broad categories (“Laid Back,” “Fashion Statement,” “Strictly Business,” and “Walk on the Wild Side”), then choose the number of socks you’d like to receive every month, from two to five pair. Gift subscriptions also are available for the fashionistas on your list. zoraab.com

7. Underwear Society You’ll love gettin’ your undies in a bunch when they’re sent from Underwear Society, a subscription service that sends four pairs of skivvies once a month or as a one-off purchase. Designate your favorite brand from one of three choices – Kings and Jaxs, Stonemen, or XVII (or let the Society mix it up for you); pick your favorite cut (brief, boxer brief or trunk); and select your size. Prices vary based on brand, which range from the very affordable $18 per shipment to a more competitive $40 a box. underwearsociety.com

8. Bespoke Post If you’re a gambling man, Bespoke Post could be in your cards. This box club features several different themes from which to choose – focusing on accessories,

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personal grooming and more – that you’ll get to peek at on the first of every month via e-mail. You can “skip it, swap it, or let it ride,” and if you choose one of the latter two options you’ll be billed the $45 per-box fee when the goods ship around the 5th of the month. bespokepost.com

9. FreshNeck The guys at the office will start to envy your professional style (assuming they don’t already, of course) with a subscription to FreshNeck, which bills itself as the “Netflix for Ties.” For all intents and purposes, that’s an accurate description of this service that lets you fill your virtual closet with dozens of ties, bow ties, pocket squares and cufflinks, the top available items of which will arrive on your doorstep within one to three business days. Wear the items as long as you want, or send them back frequently to receive new items. Membership starts at $20 per month, shipping is free both ways, and there are never any late fees. freshneck.com Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and blogger whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He lives in Manhattan with his husband and their cuddlebuddy furbaby. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox.

Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

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www.PrideSource.com

A Bloody Fun Night Of Theater

Puzzle solution on pg. 34

BY JENN MCKEE Yom Kippur – which began Friday night, when I was driving to Detroit’s City Theatre to see “Evil Dead: The Musical” – is a day of atonement, so I’ll just come clean: I’ve never seen any of Sam Raimi’s three “Evil Dead” movies, though they’re comedy/horror cult classics. This gaping hole in my cultural education made me wonder if I’d still find things to enjoy in The Ringwald and Olympia Entertainment’s fifth annual production of “Evil Dead: The Musical.” But really – do I need to have seen the source material to laugh at a man’s possessed hand throwing him around a stage? No. No, I don’t. With a gleefully profane book and lyrics by George Reinblatt, and music by Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, Melissa Morris, and Reinblatt, “Evil Dead: The Musical” is (I’m told) a mash up of elements from each of the “Evil Dead” movies. Five college students – S Mart employee Ash (David Moan), his co-worker/ girlfriend Linda (Allison Huber), his little sister Cheryl (Kimberly Alley), his best friend Scott (Graham Todd), and Scott’s new girlfriend Shelly (Kryssy Becker) – are traveling to an abandoned cabin in the woods for a vacation. Once there, they find a Sumerian version of the Book of the Dead, and an archeology professor’s recordings of the book’s incantations, which unleash demons that start to attack and possess Ash’s friends – and eventually his own hand. The nearly two-hour production, directed by Phill Harmer, employs a pre-recorded score. Unfortunately, the music occasionally overwhelms the delivery of Reinblatt’s sharply funny lyrics, particularly during ensemble tunes like “Cabin in the Woods” and “Do the Necronomicon.” Also, during Friday night’s performance, Huber hit a couple of rough patches in “Housewares Employee,” and David Schoen – who has played “alternate trail” guide Jake for five years now, and whose performance in the show is otherwise wholly enjoyable – was intermittently drowned out by the music during “Good Ol’ Reliable Jake.” Yet these are relatively small quibbles, particularly when weighed against all the things “Evil Dead” gets right. Chief among them is Moan, who plays the puffed-up camp icon Ash to near-perfection. His hilarious delivery and sense of timing are dead-on – so to speak – and his vocal abilities are truly tremendous. Plus, remember, not only does Moan have to beat himself up with his own hand, which

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“Evil Dead: The Musical” continues at the City Theatre through Oct. 25. Photo: The Ringwald Theatre

REVIEW Evil Dead: The Musical The Ringwald Theatre & Olympia Entertainment at City Theatre 2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, 16, 23 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, 17, 24 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, 18, 25 Contains adult language and themes $29.50 313-471-6611 www.olympiaentertainment.com

he does quite capably, but also, because “Evil Dead” films are a beloved cult staple, the actors have to respond when audience members anticipate lines and yell things out, as if attending a “Rocky Horror” screening. In Moan’s case, on Friday, after the crowd joined him in saying, in reference to his raised rifle, “This is my boomstick,” a patron said, “S Mart, top of the line,” and Moan responded, “I’m getting there.” This gets at one thing (of many) that makes “Evil Dead” fun: The cast seems to be having a fantastic time with the show and each other, and that translates to the crowd. After Richard Payton, playing oppressed research assistant Ed, delivered a really entertaining rendition of “Bit Part Demon,” he was supposed to be shot and killed; but lying on his stomach, his body convulsed with giggles over what was happening on stage – and this is precisely the kind of show in which a glimpse behind the curtain is not only acceptable, but adds to the laughs. Todd, meanwhile, clearly relishes playing Ash’s horny, foul-mouthed best

friend – his bro-tango with Ash, “What the Fuck Was That,” is a highlight – and Becker delivers on two roles: Scott’s eager sex toy Shelly and the archeologist’s daughter (whose clothes keep getting ripped off), Annie. Tommy LeRoy’s hunting lodge set design – and one should note that pretty much everything placed there will be used at some point during the show – must look real while also being able to withstand being splattered with loads of fake blood nightly, plus many, many other tricky technical demands. Alex Gay’s lights, whether they create a red glow outside the window, or pulse to signal the demons’ return, are a key element of the production’s storytelling. Bailey Boudreau designed costumes that must, in a couple of cases, tear away, as well as withstand gallons of fake blood nightly (a 21-gun salute to stage manager Holly Garverick for handling the messy stage and costume clean-up duties). Jeff Bobick is the show’s music director, and Allyson Smith designed the cheeky choreography (right down to the “Thriller” moves near the end). But speaking of the show’s messiness, I’ve just realized that I failed to mention the “splatter” rows in the theater, wherein about a dozen rows in the center section are covered with garbage bags, and patrons are warned that if they sit there, they may well get fake blood on them, and they may not be able to wash it out of their clothes. It’s telling that most of the people who chose to sit in the splatter section sat in the front row. The people who really love “Evil Dead,” the true fans, seem to be all in. But even if, like me, you’re a newbie to this offbeat world, you’ll still likely find it all to be bloody fun.

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Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

OUTINGS Thursday, Oct. 9 Wellness Clinic New center offers spaying, neutering and more. Tail Waggers 1990, 28402 Five Mile Road, Livonia. Tailwaggers1990.org Free HIV Testing 2 p.m. Free anonymous HIV testing in-store at S3 every Thursday 2-8. Call to make an appointment, or walk-ins welcome. S3 Safe Sex Store and HARC, 1209 S. University, Ann Arbor. 734-741-1434. info@bak-inc.com S3safesexstore.com Free HIV Testing 6 p.m. The AIDS Service Organization, Lansing. Relationship Skills Class 6 p.m. A series for LGBTQ people and their friends and loved ones. Topics include: exploring personal and cultural relationships, values, arguments and making agreements, accountability and building community connections. Tickets: $5-35. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. Goaffirmations.org Toastmaster’s International SpeakOUT! Club 7 p.m. Toastmasters will show you how to listen more effectively, think on your feet and speak confidently Jim Toy Community Center, 319 Braun Court, Ann Arbor. 734-9959867. Jimtoycenter.org

Friday, Oct. 10 Gay Business Networking (GBN) 8 a.m. Meets monthly to unite LGBT Business owners and professionals and encourage us to support each other by doing business together and referring our friends to members of the networking group. Jim Toy Community Center, 319 Braun Court, Ann Arbor. 734-995-9867. Jimtoycenter.org Strawberry and Chocolate showing for Hispanic Month at LCC 5:30 p.m. October 10, 530 730 (GB 244)-Film showing and post-film conversation facilitated by Monica Del Castillo (LCC Counselor) and Ana Woehr (LCC Academic Advisor). Lansing Community College, 422 N. Washington Square, Lansing . 517-483-1285 . vacaafrank@ gmail.com Lcc.edu/studentlife/ whats_new/ Little Witches Ball 6 p.m. Michigan Pagans, 25500 Sherwood Ave., Warren. Meetup.com/Michiganpagans EVolution @ The AFF Cafe, Store & More 6:30 p.m. Featured artist singersongwriter NIKKI HOLLAND. Open mix-bring your A game-sing, recite poetry, tell some jokes, dance. We are looking for a co-host and will be holding open auditions. Suggested donation $3-$5 benefiting the artists and The Aff Stores food donations. Organization Name, 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. jwtct@aol.com Goaffirmations.org Womyn’s Film Night 7 p.m. Film: Chely Wright: Wish Me Away-This poignant documentary, filmed over three years, profiles country music star Chely Wright, a devout Christian whose struggle to succeed in the music biz while hiding her homosexuality from her conservative family and fans caused her much anguish. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. Goaffirmations.org/

Saturday, Oct. 11 Sukkot and National Coming Out Day Celebration 10 a.m. Featuring luncheon

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and discussion: “Coming Out as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender or Ally.” Congregation T’chiyah, 15000 W. Ten Mile Road, Oak Park. 248-542-0900. Tchiyah.org Bark for Life 12 p.m. Noncompetitive walk. A Howl-O-Ween theme, an opening ceremony at, special laps around the track, dog demonstrations, doggie costume contests and games and fun for families as well! American Cancer Society, 32499 W. Chicago St., Livonia. 248-663-3409. Relayforlife.org/ barklivoniaredfordmi Oktoberfest 12 p.m. $7 per beer. Pewabic Pottery and Atwater Brewery, 10125 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit. 313626-2000. Pewabic.org Dian Slavens with special guest US Senator Carl Levin 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $75-5,000. Dian Slavens for State Senate, 37587 Five Mile Road, Livonia. Dianslavens.com Made in the USA BBQ 5:30 p.m. Tickets: $25. Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 734-668-8397. A2so.com Affirmations Vineyard: The Haunted Mansion 7 p.m. A night of wine & bites to die for. 21+. Tickets: $3545. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. Goaffirmations.org The Big 80s Flashback Bash! 8 p.m. Come dressed as your favorite 80s character for free door prizes! $7 for 7 bands and proceeds benefit the Hater Kitty Rescue Army! Featuring Walkin Talkin Toxins-Red September-Going Underground-The Whoremones (all girl Ramones!) Panic or Pain-Konrad Lee and DJ GreeboCome join the fun! Static Network, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-874-0909. info@staticrecords.com On. fb.me/1wqudY4

Sunday, Oct. 12 Fall Midland Regional in Toledo Tickets: $45. Fall Midland Regional, 3536 Secor Road, Toledo. 419-8826933. ronalp@buckeye-access.com Cedar Point Halloweekends 9 a.m. An adult group of Ladies & guy (LBGTQ) are going to CEDAR point. Charter Bus departs the Old Rite-Aid, lot 9215 Joseph Campeau. Secure Parking. we will arrive back to Detroit at Midnight. Payments can be made at the bus or in advanced . Please call to RSVP a seat 313-656-9885; ask for Skipper. DETROIT COOLEST FEMS & STUDS, 9215 Joseph Campeau, Hamtramck to Cedar Point. 313-656-9885. skipperkrystal@gmail. com Facebook.com

Rainbow Book Club 4:30 p.m. Book club dedicated to reading and discussing classic and contemporary lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer literature. Meeting since before 1998, every second Sunday of the month. Rainbow Book Club, 319 Braun Ct., Ann Arbor. 734-995-9867. Catherine. herne@gmail.com Ballroom Dance Classes 5:15 p.m. All are welcome-singles, couples, LGBT, Allies. Anyone can learn to lead or follow!Tickets: $10. GOAL, 247 W. Nine Mile, Ferndale. 248-514-0330. Meetup. com/GOAL-Get-Out-And-Live-LGBT Regardless Of (Narcotics Anonymous Meeting) 7 p.m. This is a closed meeting for addicts or those who think they might have a drug problem. This may be a Common Needs meeting, but any addict seeking recovery is welcome! The time has come that any addict seeking recovery in the Washtenaw area can find it. The more diverse the fellowship, the more members we are able to reach! The goal is to make the message of recovery available to all so that any addict can come to NA and feel that they too belong in this fellowship! Jim Toy Community Center, 319 Braun Court, Ann Arbor. 734-995-9867. jimtoycenter.org Drag Queen Addictions 10:30 p.m. LaBelle and Aretha Franklin impersonator April Summers brings her big personality to the stage as she introduces a lineup of drag stars. 18+. Inuendo Nightclub, Corner of Nevada St. and Southbound I-75, Detroit. https:// facebook.com/inuendo. nightclub?rf=118209121607517

Monday, Oct. 13 Center Open-Drop In 7 p.m. Jim Toy Community Center, 319 Braun Court, Ann Arbor. 734-995-9867. Jimtoycenter.org

Tuesday, Oct. 14 Aff Action Night 6 p.m. Educating others about how to make Michigan an equality state. Pizza provided for volunteers. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. goaffirmations.org Teens Using Drugs: What to Know and What To Do 7:30 p.m. A FREE, ongoing, two-part series designed to help participants learn to understand, identify and address adolescent alcohol/other drug problems. Dawn Farm, 5305 Elliot Dr., Ypsilanti. 734-485-8725. info@ dawnfarm.org Dawnfarm.org

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Mega March for Animals 9 a.m. Registration: $10. Michigan Humane Society, Detroit . 248-283-1000. Michiganhumane.org/mega

HIV Testing 6 p.m. Free. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248398-7105. goaffirmations.org/events/ event_details. asp?id=430531

Older Lesbians Organizing 1 p.m. Provides older Lesbians with the chance to meet like minded women in their common struggles, to share mutual interests and to play and work together. Meets the 2nd Friday of every month. Older Lesbians Organizing, 319 Braun Ct., Ann Arbor. 734-9959867. Jasmithers@sbcglobal.net JimToyCenter.org

Thursday, Oct. 16

Monthly Meeting 2 p.m. After the meeting, or anytime on our meeting day, enjoy a Pizza & a beer or any other fine menu items at Shield’s Of Troy and help support PFLAG Detroit at the same time. PFLAG Detroit, 3333 Coolidge, Troy. Pflagdetroit.org

Polyamory Network 7 p.m. Open and inclusive community of people living polyamorously, people interested in polyamory and people of, friendly to and curious about polyamory. Welcomes diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity. Meets the third Thursday of every month. Polyamory Network, 319 Braun Ct., Ann Arbor. 734-995-9867. jimtoycenter.org

Friday, Oct. 17 Out in the Union: A Labor History of Queer America 10:15 a.m. Special

See Happenings, page 30

Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

Cool Cities

Ann Arbor Drops The Bass At Edgefest

Ann Arbor

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD • YOUR MARKET Pinpoint your ad dollars where they will do the most good . . . Advertise in the next Cool Cities TO PLACE AN AD CALL 734.293.7200

William Parker performs Oct. 14 at Encore Records as part of the Edgefest.

BY SHELBY CLARK PETKUS Ann Arbor's Kerrytown Concert House brings its annual festival dedicated to bassists on Oct. 15-18. The basscentric event showcases new music from musicians who use the instrument known for its “full sonic and percussive possibilities.” From avant-garde to electronic, different bass styles ranging from European tradition to the Midwest style, the US East coast tvo the West, Edgefest will truly embody its theme: “BAS(S)ically Sound.” The musical celebration runs Oct. 15-18, with a

prelude event on Oct. 14. This year's lineup starts with William Parker, known for his bass compositions, playing a free event at Encore Records, 417 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. The 8 p.m. Oct. 14 show will feature informal, improvisational music to set the stage for the festival. Wednesday's events feature the Jaribu Shaheed Bass Quartet, the Detroit-based Shaheed leading a team of international bassists and percussionists. The event will open with a solo set by bassist, Mark Helias. The Michaël Attias Trio follows at

9 p.m., featuring the trio of alto saxophone, drums and bass. On Thursday, Diana Gannett, Doom in the Womb with Betsy Soukup and Ben Willis, and The Andrew Bishop Project start the evening. The Jason Roebke Octet follows at 8:30 p.m. with their renowned jazz. Open Loose ends the night with a 9:30 p.m. performance featuring Helias together with Tony Malaby on tenor saxophone and clarinet, and Tom Rainey on drums. Friday evening hosts Helias once again as he plays with bassist Mark Dresser as part of the “Marks Brothers.” The two bring homages to comedic masters through a fusion of jazz, classical, modern and experimental. At 8 p.m., Nimish and Niraj Ganatra present “Out to Lunch, The Music of Eric Dolphy: 50th Anniversary Tour.” The concert features masters of the improvisational music scene. The Harrison Bankhead Quartet brings their all-star Chicago stylings at 9:30 p.m. Saturday showcases the final day of performances, featuring the Edgefest Parade. The free event will feature musicians and the community at large parading as they play instruments. Walkers are urged to arrive at Kerrytown Concert House around 11:30 a.m., prior to the parade. The Joel Peterson Group then plays at 2 p.m. with a Mark Dresser solo. At 4 p.m., the Ingebrigt Häker Flaten Trio perform Scandinavian jazz. Parker, who opened the festival earlier in the week, will complete Edgefest with two sets at 7 and 10 p.m. His “In Order to Survive” shows feature guests Steve Swell on trombone and Kidd Jordan on tenor sax. Edgefest 18 begins at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15, 7 p.m. Oct. 16-17 and 10 a.m. Oct. 18 at Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. Tickets range from $5-30, with passes for all events available for $135. For more information, visit www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

SHOP LGBT 28 BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

www.PrideSource.com

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19 Abracadabra Jewelry & Gem Gallery..... 1 Anderson, PLLC, Mary K. .................. 2 Ann Arbor Animal Hospital................ 12 Ann Arbor Civic Theatre..................... 3 Ann Arbor Saline Family Chiro.............* Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra......... 4 The Ark.............................................. 5 /aut/ Bar............................................ 6 Bassett & Associates..........................* Common Language............................ 6 Dependable Collision Center...............* D’orio, Jd, Plc, Lynn B. ...................... 7 Downtown Home & Garden................ 8

Esquire Interiors..................................* First Unitarian Church of Ann Arbor.....* Frick, LMSW, BCD, CBT, Julie..............* Gail van Langen Ph.d......................... 9 Greene, LMSW, ACSW, Marge........... 10 Groom N Go .......................................* Hillers.................................................* HIV/AIDS Resource Center (Harc)........* Humane Society of Huron Valley..........* Iglesia Martell Law........................... 11 Jim Toy Resource Center................... 6 Lewis Jewelers................................ 12 Lord of Light Lutheran Church............*

Men’s Yoga...................................... 13 Merkel Carpet One..............................* Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams........... 14 Necto............................................... 15 Orion Automotive Services Inc.............* People’s Food Coop.......................... 16 Performance Network...................... 17 Peterson, PLLC, Lisa J. .................... 18 PFLAG Ann Arbor.................................* Polo Fields Golf...................................* Rock Shoppe......................................* Rosenberg, David ............................ 12 Sh\aut\ Cabaret and Gallery............... 6

Spectrum Center.............................. 19 Three Chairs Co............................... 20 Tios Mexican Cafe........................... 21 Top of the Lamp..................................* Trillium Real Estate............................ 6 Two Men And A Truck..........................* UMHS Comprehensive Gender Services Program...................* University Musical Society............... 22 * Not shown on map

Be included in our Ann Arbor Cool Cities Pages

Call Ed today: 734-293-7200 x15 Shop Ann Arbor! Go Blue! www.PrideSource.com

Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL 29

As part of the 36th Annual North American Labor History Conference, Professor Miriam Frank will host a talk on her book, “Out in the Union: A Labor History of Queer America.” The theme of this year’s conference centers around “The Nature of Work.” According to the event’s website, “This conference intends to expand those horizons through investigating the multifold meanings of ‘nature’ from a wide range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives.” The book talk will run from 10:15-11:45 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 17 in the McGregor Room B/C at Wayne State University in Detroit. The entire conference will run from Oct. 16-18. For more information, visit www.nalhc.wayne.edu.

® Happenings Continued from p. 27 book talk by Prof. Miriam Frank. 36th Annual North American Labor History Conference, Detroit. Nalhc. wayne.edu A. Jaffe Bridal/Diamond Jewelry Event 11 a.m. We will have a much larger selection of engagement, commitment, anniversary and stackable rings, wedding bands for brides or grooms, as well as earrings and necklaces. ABRACADABRA, 205 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 734-994-4848. Abragem.com 42nd Annual SOCK (Support Our Capuchin Kitchen) Dinner  6 p.m. Support the Capuchin Soup Kitchens efforts to serve the people of Detroit! Entertainment by Boogie Dynomite. Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 400 Renaissance Dr., Detroit. 313-579-2100 x153 . Cskdetroit.org/sock/ Detroit’s Largest Zumba Fitness Party 7 p.m. All ages and abilities are welcome. No dance or fitness experience necessary. Over 50 vendors and community partners to shop with!Tickets: $10. Detroit Zumba All Stars, 2727 Russell St., Detroit. 313587-6203. detroitzumbaallstars@gmail. com Dzas. weebly.com Friday Night Vibe @ The AFF Cafe, Store & More 7 p.m. The Friday Night Vibe is your original open mic night in downtown Ferndale, whether your singing, acting, dancing or showcasing your talent. DJ ACE will be here playing the hottest club hits. Free. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. TylerBeltz@aol.com Goaffirmations.org Womyn’s Film Night 7 p.m. Film: Margarita-When Margarita, an illegal Mexican nanny living in the states, is fired by her uptight employers she must choose between staying with her commitment-phobic girlfriend whom she adores, and going home to Mexico. Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-398-7105. Goaffirmations.org/ Pride Friday 9 p.m. The one and only gay night. 18+. Guys with college ID get in free before 11 p.m. Cover: $5+. Necto, 516 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 734-9945835. Thenecto.com Seventh Annual Second Helping SOCK Afterglow  9 p.m. All proceeds support the Soup Kitchen. Admission is included with a SOCK ticket, or $50 per person as a standalone ticket. Included are entertainment, two drinks, dessert bar and coffee station. Capuchin Soup Kitchens, 400 Renaissance Dr., Detroit. Secondhelping.org

30 BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

Drag Queen Bingo 10 p.m. A fun alternative to your usual weekend hot spots. Shows get out just early enough for you to hit the local clubs or bars! Refreshments from our full coffee bar (coffees, teas, smoothies), sodas, water, and more. Tickets: $20. 18+. Five15, 515 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak. 248-515-2551. Five15.net

MUSIC & MORE Benefits/Social Events Pewabic Pottery “Raku Party” . Pewabic Pottery, 10125 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit. 10 a.m. Oct. 11. 313-6262000. Pewabic.org The Ark “Blackthorn ACS CAN Fundraiser” Tickets: $25. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12. 734-761-1800. Theark.org

Classical Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra “Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage” Tickets: $8-12. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 4 p.m. Oct. 12. 734-6688397. A2so.com Chamber Music Society of Detroit “Signature Chamber Series” . Seligman Performing Arts Center, 22305 W. 13 Mile Road, Beverly Hills. Sep. 20-Jan. 17. Chambermusicdetroit.org Chamber Music Society of Detroit “Juilliard String Quartet” Tickets: $1060. Seligman Performing Arts Center, Oakland University, 2200 N. Squirrel Road, Rochester. Oct. 11-Oct. 12. 248370-2030. Chambermusicdetroit.org Chamber Music Society of Detroit “Chamber Music Society of Detroit at Oakland University” . Varner Recital Hall, Oakland University, 2200 N. Squirrel Road, Rochester. Oct. 12-Nov. 9. 248370-2030. Chambermusicdetroit.org Detroit Symphony Orchestra “The Viruosity of Sarah Chang” . Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Oct. 10-Oct. 12. 313-5765111. Dso.org Lansing Symphony Orchestra “MasterWorks 2: Chopin & Mendelssohn” Kernis: Musica Celestis (Music of the Heavens). Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11. Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, “Italian. .”Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, Michigan State University, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. 8 p.m. Oct. 11. 800-WHARTON. Lansingsymphony.org

Comedy Royal Oak Music Theatre “Hannibal Buress” . Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak. Oct. 11. 248-

399-2980. Royaloakmusictheatre.com Wharton Center “Lewis Black” Tickets: $25-39. 50. Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, Michigan State University, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. 7 p.m. Oct. 12. 800-WHARTON. Whartoncenter.com

Concerts Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra “Made in the USA” Tickets: $15-62. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 8 p.m. Oct. 11. 734-668-8397. A2so.com Blind Pig “J Mascis” 18+. Tickets: $18-20. Blind Pig, 208 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 8 p.m. Oct. 13. 734-996-8555. Blindpigmusic.com Royal Oak Music Theatre “Timeflies” With Kap Slap. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak. Oct. 10. 248-399-2980. Royaloakmusictheatre. com The Acorn Theater “Justin Hayford” Tickets: $18. The Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Dr., Three Oaks. 7 p.m. Oct. 12. 269-756-3879. Acorntheater.com The Acorn Theater “Bo Deans” . The Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Dr., Three Oaks. 8 p.m. Oct. 9. 269-7563879. Acorntheater.com The Ark “Joan Osborne” Tickets: $35. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 8 p.m. Oct. 15. 734-761-1800. Theark.org The Ark “Veterans For Peace John Lennon Birthday Concert” Tickets: $15. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9. 734-761-1800. Theark.org The Ark “Shawn Phillips” Tickets: $20. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 8 p.m. Oct. 11. 734-761-1800. Theark.org The Crofoot “Big Freedia Just Be Free Tour” With special guest Gin & Tronic. 18+. The Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac. 9 p.m. Oct. 9. 248-858-9333. TheCrofoot.com The Magic Bag “Motopony with Family Crest” Tickets: $10. The Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Oct. 10. 248-544-3030. Themagicbag.com The Pike Room “Hunter Valentine: The Ladykillers Tour” With Sick of Sarah. The Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac. Oct. 16. 248-858-9333.

THEATER Civic/Community Theater Alice in Wonderland, Jr. $13. The Franke Center Children’s Theater at The Franke Center, 214 E. Mansion St., Marshall. Oct. 16 - 19. 269-781-0001. frankecenterforthearts.org

www.PrideSource.com

Bug $15. Monster Box Theatre, 2529 Elizabeth Lake Road, Waterford. Oct. 16 - 31. 248-872-7344. monsterboxtheatre.com/ Carrie: The Musical $15-35. The Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian. Oct. 17 - 26. 517-264SHOW. Croswell.org Child’s Play $10-12. Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Dr., Lansing. Through Oct. 12. 517-482-5700. Riverwalktheatre.com Dial M for Murder $16-18. St. Dunstan’s Theatre Guild of Cranbrook, 400 Lone Pine Road, Bloomfield Hills. Oct. 10 - 25. 888-718-4253. showclix. com/events/3871333 Disney’s Peter Pan Jr. $12-15. All the World’s a Stage at Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. Oct. 18. 586286-2222. macombcenter.com

College/University Theater

Wmutheatre.com

All’s Well That Ends Well $10-20. Bonstelle Theatre, 3424 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Oct. 10 - 19. 313-577-2960. bonstelle.com

Dr. Faustus $9-15. Eastern Michigan University Theatre at Sponberg Theatre inside Quirk Dramatic Arts Building, East Circle Dr. & Ann St., Ypsilanti. Oct. 10 - 19. 734-487-1220. Emich.edu/ emutheatre

Animals Out of Paper $5-10. Lansing Community College Performing Arts at LCC Black Box Theatre, 168 Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Ave., Lansing. Through Oct. 11. 517-483-1488. Lcc. edu/showinfo Cabaret $10-28. The U-M Department of Theatre & Drama at Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 N. University, Ann Arbor. Oct. 9 - 19. 734-971-2228. umich.edu Check Your Privilege $5-20. The University Theatre at York Arena Theatre inside The Gilmore Theatre Complex, 2200 Auditorium Dr., Kalamazoo. Through Oct. 12. 269-387-7222.

Good Kids $10-28. The U-M Department of Theatre & Drama, Arthur Miller Theatre, 1226 Murfin Ave., Ann Arbor. Through Oct. 12. 734-764-2538. tickets.music.umich.edu

Professional 1984 $5-20. What A Do Theatre, 4071 W. Dickman Road, Springfield. Oct. 10 25. 269-282-1953. whatado.org Alice $30-75. Nerve at Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church, 2441 Pinecrest Dr., Ferndale. Oct. 10 - 25. 248-506-4335. gonerve.com

Annapurna $12-42. The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park St., Chelsea. Through Dec. 20. 734-433-7673. purplerosetheatre.org Are You There God? It’s Me, Carrie $10-20. The Ringwald Theatre, 22742 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Oct. 11 - Nov. 3. 248-545-5545. theringwald.com Around the World in 80 Days $26-41. Meadow Brook Theatre, 2200 N. Squirrel Road, Rochester. Through Oct. 26. 248377-3300. mbtheatre.com At the Bistro Garden $18-23. Two Muses Theatre at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 6800 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield. Through Oct. 19. 248850-9919. twomusestheatre.org Bernhardt on Broadway $24.5028.50. Dexter Center for the Performing Arts, 2200 N. Parker Road,

See Happenings, page 34

I Was a Rat $7+. Kalamazoo Civic Theatre at Parish Theatre, 426 S. Park St., Kalamazoo. Oct. 17 - 25. 269-3431313. kazoocivic.com My Fair Lady $13-24. Kalamazoo Civic Theatre at Civic Auditorium, 329 S. Park St., Kalamazoo. Through Oct. 12. 269343-1313. kazoocivic.com Sleepy Hollow $15. Spotlight on Youth at The Village Theater at Cherry Hill, 50400 Cherry Hill Road, Canton. Oct. 16 - 19. 734-394-5300. canton-mi.org/ villagetheater The Fox on the Fairway $12-15. The Twin City Players, 600 W. Glenlord Road, St. Joseph. Through Oct. 26. 269-4290400. twincityplayers.org Tribes $16-18. Stagecrafters at Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak. Oct. 8 - 19. 248-541-6430. stagecrafters.org

Perpetually angry comedian Lewis Black comes to East Lansing this weekend. The Grammy award-winning comic has a history of lambasting anti-LGBT people and groups (like Barilla). Black’s live performances “provide a cathartic release of anger and disillusionment for his audience.” As part of his “The Rant is Due” tour, the comedian will make the audience laugh with him and also at themselves. Lewis Black will perform at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12 at the Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall, 750 E. W. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. Tickets are $25-39.50. For more information, visit www.whartoncenter.com.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD • YOUR MARKET

Be included in our Ann Arbor Cool Cities Pages Call us today: 734-293-7200 x22 www.PrideSource.com

Oct. 9, 2014 | BTL

Q Puzzle

From A Modern Family Episode

Across 1 Stones ballad 6 Where they yell “Cut!” 10 Kunis of “Black Swan” 14 Tease 15 Tori who sang “I am not from your tribe”

16 With mouth wide open 17 Start of a frustrated cry from Cameron to Mitchell 18 More of the cry 20 ___ buco 21 Industrial-strength air? 22 Out-and-out 23 NCAA home of the Bruins

25 Sphere start 27 More of the cry 31 Result of excessive circumcision 34 “West Side Story” girl 35 Mounds ruled by queens 38 Cereal box no. 39 Put out again 42 When repeated, campy 43 Poet Moore 45 Shaft in a straight simile 47 Spank 48 More of the cry 51 “I’ve had better ...” 53 Canadian gas brand 54 Part of a flight 57 Young meat 59 Cherry stones 63 What you wind up with, per Cameron 65 ___ Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell portrayer) 66 Plot unit 67 Pronto on “ER” 68 Tatum of “The Bad News Bears” 69 “___ she blows!” 70 Staying power, on Broadway 71 Former NFL player Tuaolo

Down 1 “A one and ___ ...” 2 “Ixnay” and “No way” 3 Dolls’ companions, in a musical 4 Iffy 5 WWII command 6 Male parishioner, to Rev. Perry

7 1847 Melville novel 8 Adds some muscle to 9 Fast flier, briefly 10 Cocktail for the “Octopussy” star 11 “___ Rhythm” 12 Hilary Swank’s husband Chad 13 It gets a gel hard 19 Run smoothly 21 Patty Hearst’s former org. 24 “Bewitched” aunt 26 Penetrating question? 27 Cordial, as a welcome 28 Finish with 29 Diana’s accessory 30 Deejay Casey 32 Prefix with butch or right-wing 33 Become an open pansy, e.g. 36 Gets wind of 37 Spills one’s seed 40 Mireille of “The Killing” 41 Do pioneer work 44 Top, to a bottom? 46 Gets back in business 49 They help bakers get it up 50 High-speed connection 52 Bruin Bobby 54 Slap a bottom 55 Stage crew worker, briefly 56 Big name in razors 58 Web info source 60 Voyeur’s confession? 61 Peter, for one 62 Ward of “Once and Again” 64 Night school subj. 65 Playwright Orton

Solution on pg. 25

Classifieds 320 EMPLOYMENT WANTED Event Coordinator in Training

Company: Roostertail Job Description: Applicant will conduct office administrative tasks and work with Sales Team to move towards a full-time sales position. Requirements or Qualifications: Office level computer competency Excellent grammar and letter drafting skills Good people skills How to Apply: Please email, fax, or hand deliver cover letter and resume addressed to: Carl Ghigliazza, Roostertail, 100 Marquette Dr., Detroit, MI 48214. p. (313) 822-1234, f. (313) 822-7988 Email: Carl@Roostertail.com

Say Hello To Cheeka!

GROUP MASSAGE

- For Gay and Bisexual Men. Learn some massage techniques and meet others in a safe and caring environment. Tuesdays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Thursdays at 2 p.m. $10 per session. 209 West Kingsley in downtown Ann Arbor. (734) 6626282 or email Massage4@aol.com. http://www.trymassage.com

Say Hi to Cheeka! This 10-monthold Chihuahua is the shy kind at first but is soon to warm right up! She enjoys the quiet things in life and would love to snuggle with you in your favorite chair. The adoption fee includes sterilization, age-appropriate vaccinations, the MHS Adoption Guarantee and much more. For more information, please visit or call the MHS Berman Center for Animal Care in Westland at (734) 721-7300 and provide the pet ID number, 788061.

MICHIGAN MIC HIG AN A PRIDE PR D S SOURCE O URC R ED DIRECTORY I REC RECTORY R T O RY • 2 2013 013 - 2 2014 014

MICHIGAN MIC HIG AN PRIDE SOURCE SOUR S O URC E D DIRECTORY I REC RECTORY R T O RY • 2 2013 0 1 3 - 2014 2014

WWW.PRIDESOURCE.COM/DIRECTORY.HTML

MICHIGAN MIC HIG AN PRIDE SOURCE SOUR S O U RC E D DIRECTORY I REC RECTORY R T O RY • 2 2013 0 1 3 - 2014 2014

32 BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

428 PROF. SERVICES MASSAGE

www.PrideSource.com

Entertaining and thought-provoking, “Cabaret” plays at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre in Ann Arbor Oct. 9 and 16 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 8 p.m.; and Oct. 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. Set in the midst of the decadent and flourishing creative culture of Weimar Berlin, the musical opens in the sordid, yet enticing cabaret, the Kit Kat Klub, presided over by a mysterious and seductive master of ceremonies. A traveling American writer, Cliff Bradshaw, finds inspiration at the Klub in the beguiling headliner Sally Boules. An avidly ambitious chanteuse, Sally seduces her way into Cliff’s bed and, ultimately, his heart. Yet not even Sally’s distraction can obliterate the looming threat of the Third Reich. Tickets are $28 and $22, and students with ID for only $10. Tickets are available by phone at 734-7642538. The Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre is located within the Michigan League at 911 N. University Ave.

® Happenings

Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show $4359. Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17. 586-2862222. macombcenter.com

Spoken Word/Storytelling

Buried Child Donation only. The Abreact Theatre Collective, 1301 W. Lafayette #113, Detroit. Through Oct. 11. 313454-1542. theabreact.com

Sid the Science Kid Live: Let’s Play $15-35. Miller Auditorium, 2200 Auditorium Dr., Kalamazoo. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9. 269-387-2300. millerauditorium. com

The Three R’s $20. The Secret Society of Twisted Storytellers at The Charles H. Wight Museum of African American History, 315 E. Warren Ave., Detroit. 8 p.m. Oct. 17. 313-744-6037. secretstorytellers.org

Cheating Cheaters $8-15. Thunder Bay Theatre, 400 N. Second Ave., Alpena. Through Oct. 19. 989-354-2267. thunderbaytheatre.com

Spamalot $15-32. The Encore Musical Theatre Company, 3126 Broad St., Dexter. Through Oct. 12. 734-268-6200. theencoretheatre.org

ART ‘N’ AROUND

Dracula The Musical $35-41. The Dio - Dining and Entertainment, 135 E. Main St., Pinckney. Through Nov. 1. 517-6726009. diotheatre.com

Spencers: Theatre of Illusion $15-30. Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 3 p.m. Oct. 12. 586-286-2222. macombcenter.com

Continued from p. 31 Dexter. Oct. 11 - 12. 800-838-3066. brownpapertickets.com/event/789185

Driving Miss Daisy $27-41. Performance Network Theatre, 120 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor. Through Oct. 26. 734-663-0681. pntheatre.org Elektra $25-128. Michigan Opera Theatre at Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit. Oct. 18 - 26. 313237-SING. michiganopera.org Evil Dead: The Musical $15-29.50. The Ringwald Theatre & Olympia Entertainment at City Theatre, 2301 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Through Oct. 25. 313-471-6611. ticketmaster.com Firebird $5-10. PuppetART at Detroit Puppet Theater, 25 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit. Through Oct. 26. 313-961-7777. puppetart.org Fridays and Saturdays at Go Comedy! Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale. 248-327-0575. gocomedy.net Frog and Toad $3-12. Wild Swan Theater at Towsley Auditorium in the Morris Lawrence Building on the campus of Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor. Oct. 9 - 11. 734-995-0530. wildswantheater.org Improv Mondays $5 at the door. Planet Ant Theatre, 2357 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-365-4948. planetant.com Joel Frankel $5. The Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Dr., Three Oaks. Oct. 11. 269756-3879. acorntheater.com Kiss & Cry $26. University Musical Society at Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor. Oct. 10 - 12. 734-764-2538. ums.org Mamma Mia! $39-79. Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit. Oct. 17 - 19. 313-872-1000. broadwayindetroit.com Menopause The Musical $49. Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit. Oct. 14 - 16. 313-872-1000. broadwayindetroit.com

34 BTL | Oct. 9, 2014

Story Time For children ages 3-8. Free. Performance Network Theatre, 120 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor. Saturdays through Oct. 25. 734-663-0681. pntheatre.org The 39 Steps $20. The Snug Theatre, 160 S. Water St., Marine City. Oct. 10 26. 810-278-1749. thesnugtheatre.com The Birth of Chad $10. Planet Ant Theatre, 2357 Caniff, Hamtramck. Oct. 10 - 25. planetant.com The Gravedigger, A Frankenstein Story $15-35. Williamston Theatre, 122 S. Putnam Road, Williamston. Through Nov. 2. 517-655-SHOW. williamstontheatre. org The Secret Garden $32-34. Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, Kalamazoo. Through Oct. 12. 269-3432727. farmersalleytheatre.com The Signal: A Doo Wop Rhapsody $25. The Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Dr., Three Oaks. 8 p.m. Oct. 17. 269756-3879. acorntheater.com The Value of Names $41-48. The Jewish Ensemble Theatre Company at Aaron DeRoy Theatre on the campus of the Jewish Community Center, 6600 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield. Through Oct. 12. 248-788-2900. jettheatre.org Tomfoolery $10-20. The Penny Seats Theatre Company at Conor O’Neill’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 318 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Through Oct. 23. 734-9265346. pennyseats.org Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding $63. Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10. 586-268-3200. andiamoitalia.com/ showroom/ Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike $27-32. Tipping Point Theatre, 361 E. Cady St., Northville. Through Oct. 19. 248-3470003. tippingpointtheatre.com

for the Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11. 586-286-2222. macombcenter.com

Boardwalk “Gary Eleinko: Jungle Fever” Oil on Wood. Part of ArtPrize. Vote 56521. Boardwalk, 940 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids. Sep. 24-Oct. 12. Cranbrook Art Museum “Cranbrook Goes to the Movies: Films and Their Objects, 1925-1975” . Cranbrook Art Museum, 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills. June 21-Feb. 28. 877462-7262. Cranbrookart.edu Detroit Artists Market (DAM) “Abstraction and Landscape: Contemporary Woodcut” Curated by Endi Poskovic. Detroit Artists Market, 4719 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Sep. 12-Oct. 18. 313-832-8540. Detroitartistsmarket.org Detroit Institute of Arts “Guest of Honor: Monet’s Waterlily Pond, Green Harmony” . Detroit Institute of Arts, 2100 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Oct. 1-Jan. 4. 313-833-7900. Dia.org Downriver Council for the Arts “Adult Oil & Acrylics Class” Tickets: $10. Downriver Council for the Arts, 81 Chestnut, Wyandotte. Jan. 7-Nov. 25. 734-720-0671. Downriverarts.org Ferndale Public Library “Menagerie A Group Exhibition” Artists reception is Thursday, Aug. 28th from 7-9 pm. Ferndale Public LIbrary, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Aug. 28-Oct. 11. 248-546-2504. Ferndalepubliclibrary. org/index. php/art-exhibitions Flint Institute of Arts “Diann Benoit and Suzanne Rock” Featured artists for September and October. Flint Institute of Arts, 1120 E. Kearsley St., Flint. Sep. 7-Oct. 31. 810-234-1695. Flintarts.org MOCAD “After Glow” MOCAD gala, featuring DJ sets by Matthew Dear. Special guest WAAJEED. Tickets: $35-250. Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 8:30 p.m. Oct. 10. 313-832-6622. Mocadetroit.org The Scarab Club “United States” . The Scarab Club, 217 Farnsworth, Detroit. Sep. 10-Oct. 18. 313-831-1250. Scarabclub.org

Voca People $43-59. Macomb Center